Central control and monitoring of a delivery of liquid product

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are systems and methods for the central control and monitoring of delivery of liquid product. The methods can be performed within a system that includes a centralized inventory management system. The method can include receiving at the centralized inventory management system a request from a carrier for instructions relating to delivery of liquid product. Based on data monitored by the centralized inventory management system, the centralized inventory management system can determine a type and volume of liquid product needed in one retail store facility selected from a plurality of retail store facilities and then post an order providing instructions to the carrier regarding liquid product needed in the selected retail store facility.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/644,317, filed on Jan. 14, 2005, andentitled “Systems and Methods for Central Control, Monitoring, andReconciliation of Liquid Product”, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention extend to methods, systems andcomputer program products associated with the delivery, tracking, andreconciliation of liquid product inventory. More particularly,embodiments of the present invention provide for a liquid product bookinventory to physical inventory reconciliation process that can beinitiated and performed on a virtual real-time basis, regardless ofongoing sales transactions. Further, embodiments of the presentinvention are configured to measure and compensate for temperaturevariances at every point of physical measurement in order toappropriately reconcile book and physical inventory. In addition,embodiments of the present invention provide for an automated way torequest, determine, and monitor the delivery of liquid product to adistribution facility in order to prevent shortages, unauthorized drops,theft, etc.

2. Background and Related Art

Both retail and wholesale liquid product distribution facilities (e.g.,gas stations, oil refiners, etc.) are located throughout the nation andother parts of the world. Typically, the liquid product is stored inbulk storage containers or tanks, which may be located above, below, orpartially below ground. Each tank may store various petroleum and otherliquid products (e.g., gasoline, diesel, kerosene, etc.) to be dispensedthrough pump dispensers at various retail facilities (e.g., automobileservice stations, trucking terminals, automobile rental outlets, andother similar operations). The liquid product is generally delivered tosuch retail facilities by a gravity drop from a compartment in a wheeledtransport such as a fuel delivery truck. These delivery trucks are inturn loaded for delivery from tank systems located at wholesaledistribution centers, which may also receive deliveries of product from,e.g., a pipeline spur, delivery trucks, a barge, rail car, or othersimilar means. The amount of the load is typically reported in abill-of-lading, which is issued to the retail facility at the time ofthe drop.

In larger facilities, there may be multiple tanks containing the same orsimilar liquid product. In fact, tanks containing like or similarproduct may be manifolded together, allowing them to function as onelarger tank. For example more than one tank containing LS #2 Diesel fuelmay be plumbed to a common trunk line connecting to multiple fuelingdispensers. Additionally, multiple tanks could be plumbed together witha siphon line allowing for the cross flow of product between the tanks.For instance, tanks with premium fuel may be manifolded together withregular fuel tanks, wherein mid-grade fuels are a cross flow of thesetwo types of fuel. For purposes of book inventory to physical inventoryreconciliation, the multiple tanks that are plumbed together can betreated as one tank, since it is not always feasible to assign a salestransaction to any one of the tanks individually.

Regardless of the type of tanks, these distribution outlets (bothwholesale and retail facilities) are tightly governed by Federal andstate laws that require tank systems to have leak detection. Oneavailable leak detection processes is known as Statistical InventoryReconciliation (SIR), which analyzes inventory, delivery, and dispensingdata collected over a period of time to determine whether or not a tanksystem is leaking. Each operating day, the owner of the facility shouldmeasure the product level using a gauge stick or other tank levelmonitor (e.g., an Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG)). The owner is alsorequired to keep complete records of all withdrawals from the tank andall deliveries to the tank. After data has been collected for the periodof time required by the SIR, the data may be provided to the SIR vendoror entered into the owners own SIR program. The SIR system then usessophisticated computer software to conduct a statistical analysis of thedata to determine whether or not the tanks may be leaking. The programmay then provide the owner with a test report of the analysis resultswith one of three possible bottom-line responses: pass, fail, orinconclusive.

Although current SIR systems are useful in detecting leaks and areapproved by various governmental agencies (e.g., the EnvironmentalProtection Agency EPA), they also have several shortcomings. Forexample, in order to use such SIR processes, measurements must takeplace in a static environment. In particular, no liquid product shouldbe delivered to or dispensed from the tanks during the tank volumemeasuring process. For small retail facilities that typically have idletimes (e.g., during early morning hours), this may not be a big burden.For larger operating facilities that have continual activity (e.g.,popular truck fueling stations), however, such required inactivity ofthe dispensers causes a great burden on the owner and is a biginconvenience for customers who must wait while the measurements aretaking place.

Another problem with such SIR systems is they cannot provide real-timemonitoring of the delivery of liquid product for accurate inventory.Frequently, there may be overages and shortages in the delivery of theliquid product as opposed to what gets reported in the bill-of-lading.These delivery inconsistencies may be caused by any number of things,for example, inaccurate metering at the rack where the fuel is dispensedinto the delivery truck, inconsistencies in the delivery truck's tanknot allowing all of the fuel to drop, a bad release valve on thedelivery truck, temperature changes from the rack to the tank where it'sdelivered, and even theft. Regardless of the reason for theinconsistency, as mentioned above because these SIR systems typicallyrequire data taken over a large period of time (e.g., a month), theycannot immediately identify overages or shortages in deliveries bytaking instant reconciliations before and after a delivery.Nevertheless, even if they could do a real-time reconciliation, becausethey cannot operate in a dynamic environment, they cannot give on-demandreconciliation when pumps are active. Accordingly, in order to use SIRfor determining delivery shortages, deliveries would need to be madeduring idle times, which could be difficult, if not impossible, toschedule.

A related problem with current SIR systems is that, because they cannotdo real-time monitoring of the change in volume within a tank, theycannot immediately determine if liquid product is being dropped into anunauthorized tank or if the level of water within the tank is too high.An unauthorized drop, however, can have serious consequences. Forexample, if the wrong petroleum product is unknowingly dropped into animproper tank, extreme damage may occur to vehicles fueled with theimproper product. In addition, during a drop, the sediment at the bottomof the tank may be disturbed causing the level of water within the tankto rise dramatically. Such a rise in water volume, however, can also besiphoned into the dispensing system, causing those vehicles fuelingduring the surge to get water instead of fuel.

One solution to such problems would be to manually monitor the dropthrough, e.g., an ATG. This rudimentary solution, however, has severaldownfalls. For example, often times a drop cannot be anticipated; andtherefore one might not even know when an unauthorized drop hasoccurred. In addition, by the time it is determined that theunauthorized drop is occurring or that the level of water in the tank isrising to dangerous levels, it may take several minutes to run out andstop the unauthorized or dangerous drop, while the damage has alreadyoccurred.

Another problem with SIR reports is that they don't take into accounttemperature differences at every physical point in the distributionprocess. When the liquid product is initially loaded into the deliveryvehicle, it is at a first temperature that can be reported in thebill-of-lading. Depending on a myriad of factors, however, thetemperature of the liquid product can change dramatically during thedistribution process. For example, the temperature of the liquid productmay change depending on the temperature difference where the deliverytruck was loaded and where the drop was made, the time of day, whetherthe tank is above or below ground, etc. These temperature differences,however, can have an enormous effect of the measured volume of theliquid product and can be the cause of error in the SIR system.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present inventions overcome these problems byproviding various methods, systems, computer program products anddevices. In one configuration, the present invention can include systemsand methods for the central control and monitoring of product deliverybased on anticipation of delivery through a request and authorization ofproduct drop process. Prior to delivery of a product, the driverrequests and receives authorization from a centralized service, such asa corporate based Centralized Inventory Management system, or CIM,sending authorization data to the driver and/or the retail facility toreceive the liquid product. The driver can provide the CIM withinformation on a bill-of-lading. The driver can also provide additionalinformation such as the supplier, the fuel source where the product wasloaded, the carrier, driver's information, etc. In some embodiments, thedriver can provide all of this information electronically using aportable computing device carried by the driver or located in the truckto wirelessly communicate this data between the terminal, the CIM,and/or the retail facility. The CIM can authorize delivery following aseries of appropriate interactions between the fuel source, the CIM, thecarrier, the driver and the retail facility where the delivery or dropwill occur. As part of the anticipation of a drop, the specific tank toreceive the product can be identified and flagged. That particular tank,as well as all other tanks at the retail facility, can be monitored todetermine in real-time if the drop occurs at the proper tank. Further,monitoring of water content can occur to prevent delivery of the waterto the customer through the dispenser.

In one configuration, disclosed are systems, methods, and computerprogram products for the central control and monitoring of a delivery ofliquid product. The system can include a centralized inventorymanagement system that can monitor and control the delivery of theliquid product by a carrier, to at least one retail facility. The methodcan include receiving at the centralized inventory management system arequest from the carrier for instructions relating to delivery of liquidproduct. Based on data monitored by the centralized inventory managementsystem, the method can include determining a type and volume of liquidproduct needed in one retail facility selected from a plurality ofretail facilities and then posting an order providing instructions tothe carrier regarding liquid product needed in the selected retailfacility.

In another configuration, disclosed are methods, systems, and computerprogram products to prevent a delivery vehicle from making anunauthorized delivery of liquid product to a liquid product storage tankat a retail facility. The method can include a retail system and/or acentralized inventory management system monitoring one or more tanks atthe retail facility for liquid product delivery by the carrier. A retailsystem and/or the centralized inventory management system monitors thedelivery, the method can include identifying delivery of liquid productto an unauthorized tank and then automatically terminating delivery ofthe liquid product by interrupting delivery of the liquid product intothe unauthorized tank.

The system to prevent a delivery vehicle from delivering liquid productto an unauthorized storage tank can include a centralized inventorymanagement system connected to at least one a computer in the retailfacility. The system also can include at least one sensor located ineach storage tank at the retail facility, the at least one sensor can beelectronically connected to the centralized inventory management systemand can perform a real-time measurement of the amount of liquid productin each of the storage tanks. The centralized management system and/orthe retail facility can activate a valve that can interrupt the flow ofliquid product during a delivery. The centralized inventory managementsystem can monitor the sensor in each of the storage tanks while liquidproduct is being delivered into any storage tank and can send a signalto the delivery vehicle to close the valve if the liquid product isbeing delivered into an unauthorized tank or a level of water increases,thereby indicating that too much water is in or being deposited into thetank.

In another configuration, disclosed is a virtual real-time liquidproduct book to physical reconciliation process within a dynamicenvironment. The method can include receiving a request to perform aliquid product book to physical reconciliation process for one or morestorage tanks. Once received, the method can include identifying thestatus of one or more liquid product dispensers corresponding to the oneor more storage tanks. While the one or more liquid product dispensersare in an active state, the method can include taking a plurality ofmeasurements within the one or more storage tanks and the one or moreliquid product dispensers and, based on the plurality of measurements,automatically performing the liquid product book to physicalreconciliation process.

In another example embodiment is disclosed a system, method, andcomputer program product for performing a virtual real-time liquidproduct book to physical volume reconciliation by rapidly accumulatingdata over a predetermined time period at a plurality of measurementdevices and monitoring sale transactions during the predetermined timeperiod. This embodiment comprises receiving a request to initiate aliquid product book to physical volume reconciliation process for one ormore storage tanks. The request is received while one or more liquidproduct dispensers, corresponding to the one or more storage tanks, arein an active state. Thereafter, a plurality of measurement data from aplurality of measurement devices is collected over a predeterminedperiod of time, wherein the plurality of measurement data is taken atrapid intervals over the predetermined period of time. Further, atime-stamp is assigned to each of the plurality of measurement data andsales transactions are monitored during the predetermined period oftime. After the predetermined period of time, the plurality ofmeasurement data and the monitored sales transactions are used tocomplete the liquid product book to physical volume reconciliationprocess.

In another configuration, disclosed are systems, methods, and computerprogram products to compensate for surface movement of liquid productwithin one or more tanks during a virtual real-time liquid product bookto physical reconciliation process. The method can include filteringphysical volume measurements within one or more tanks at a point in timeby receiving a plurality of measurement data at a plurality of times,each measurement data representing a volume of liquid product within thetank. With the plurality of measurement data, the method can includecomparing each volume of liquid against at least one predeterminedvolume identified as being unreliable and generating a second set ofmeasurement data by eliminating any measurement data from the pluralityof measurement data that is identified as being unreliable. Using thesecond set of measurement data, the method can include determining asample mean and a standard deviation for the second set of measurementdata and then filtering the second set of measurement data to generate athird set of measurement data by eliminating any measurement data fromthe second set of measurement data that has a value plus or minus apredetermined number of the standard deviations from the standard meanfor the second set of measurement data.

In another configuration, disclosed are methods, systems, and computerprogram products for monitoring and reporting liquid product dispensertransaction states for book to physical reconciliation purposes. Thisembodiment can provide real-time status of sales transactions in orderto perform liquid product fuel reconciliation regardless of ongoingsales. The process can include receiving a request to perform the liquidproduct book to physical reconciliation for one or more of storagetanks. Once the request is received, a duration for accumulation ofmeasurement data used for the reconciliation is identified. During theidentified duration, the status of one or more dispensers that dispenseliquid product from one or more storage tanks is monitored. Based on thestatus of the one or more dispensers, either a physical inventory or abook value is updated to appropriately determine the book to physicalreconciliation.

In another configuration, disclosed are methods, systems, and computerprogram products for collecting and communicating temperature and volumedata directly from a dispenser for use during a book to physicalreconciliation process. The temperature and volume readings, such asdata indicative of the measured temperature and volume of the liquidproduct, can be received directly from a dispenser by at least one of aretail system and a central inventory management system. The method caninclude collecting flow data indicative of a volume of a liquid productdispensed from the dispenser at a plurality of times during a definedtime interval and collecting temperature data indicative of atemperature of the liquid product dispensed from the dispenser at theplurality of times during the defined interval. Once collected, thetemperature data and the flow data can be transmitted to at least one ofa retail system and a centralized inventory management system.

In another configuration, disclosed is a device for collecting liquidproduct volume data at a dispenser. The dispenser can include a firsttotalizer that receives signals from a pulser. A second totalizer can beconnected or linked in parallel with the first totalizer and can receivesignals from the pulser. The dispenser further includes a dataacquisition unit in signal communication with at least the secondtotalizer. The data acquisition unit receives data from the secondtotalizer that is indicative of a volume of the liquid product dispensedfrom the dispenser.

The method for collecting liquid product data at a dispenser can includereceiving a plurality of pulses at a first totalizer within thedispenser. Upon receiving pulse data or signals from the first pulser ata second dedicated totalizer within the dispenser, the method canfurther include generating data indicative of a volume of liquid productflowing from the dispenser. Following generating the data, the methodcan include sending the data corresponding to the dedicated totalizer toat least one of a retail system and a centralized inventory managementsystem.

In another configuration, disclosed are methods, systems, and computerprogram products for performing an on-demand book balance to physicalbalance reconciliation process for liquid product. The method caninclude receiving an indication that a delivery of product is about tooccur at a retail facility. Based on the received indication, the systemcan automatically initiate a first book balance to physical balancereconciliation of one or more liquid product storage tanks at the retailfacility prior to receiving a delivery of liquid product. Thisreconciliation can be performed while fuel is dispensed from the one ormore storage tanks. Following completion of the first book balance tophysical balance reconciliation, the method can include delivering anamount of liquid product as indicated on a delivery document. Uponreceiving an indication that the amount of liquid product has beendelivered, the method can include automatically performing a second bookbalance to physical balance reconciliation process to identify one ormore discrepancies between the book amount of liquid product and aphysical amount of liquid product actually delivered to the one or morestorage tanks.

In another configuration, disclosed are methods, systems, and computerprogram products for performing temperature standardization of thevolume of a liquid product at one or more points of physicalmeasurement. The system can include a plurality of volume measurementdevices. At least one volume measurement device is located at each of(i) a fuel source located with a distributor, (ii) a storage tank at aretail facility, and (ii) a dispenser that delivers the liquid productto the consumer. Each volume measurement device measures a gross volumeof the liquid product at, respectively, the distributor fuel source, theretail facility storage tank, and the dispenser and generates volumedata indicative of the gross volume. The system also includes aplurality of temperature measurement devices. At least one temperaturemeasurement device is located at each of (i) the distributor fuelsource, (ii) the retail facility storage tank, and (iii) the dispenser.Each temperature measurement device measures a temperature of the liquidproduct at, respectively, the distributor fuel source, the retailfacility storage tank, and the dispenser, and generates temperature dataindicative of the temperature. A plurality of time-stamp systems canalso be included in the system. In one embodiment, at least onetime-stamp system is located at each of (i) the retail facility storagetank and (ii) the dispenser. Each time-stamp system allocates atime-stamp to each of the volume data and the temperature data generatedat, respectively, the retail facility storage tank and the dispenser.

In another configuration, disclosed is a method of standardizing avolume of a liquid product across a fuel management system. The methodcan include measuring a gross volume and a temperature of the liquidproduct at each of a fuel source located at a distributor, a storagetank at a retail facility and a dispenser at the retail facility.Following measuring the gross volume and temperature, the method caninclude assigning a time-stamp to data indicative of the temperature andgross volume in the tank and at the dispenser. The method can alsoentail using the measurements of gross volume, temperature and each ofthe given time-stamps to reconcile gross to net volumes at a singlepoint in time.

In another configuration, disclosed are methods, systems, and computerprogram products for balancing net inventory using a dynamic expansioncoefficient of liquid product relative to the temperature changes withdensity. The method can include receiving an American PetroleumInstitute (API) gravity report that includes a measurement of a specificgravity and a temperature of the liquid product reported at a fuelsource. Utilizing the API gravity report, the method can includemaintaining correct densities of the liquid product by utilizing aplurality of expansion coefficients to dynamically convert a grossvolume measurement to a net volume measurement for transactions ofliquid product in a tank and at a dispenser in order to maintain a netperpetual book balance.

In another configuration, disclosed are methods, systems, and computerprogram products for measuring a physical volume of a liquid product ina manifold set of tanks. The method can include identifying three ormore volume book balances of the volume of the liquid product in themanifold set of tanks at three or more reconciliation times. The amountsof the liquid product dispensed from the manifold set of tanks can bemonitored and the physical volume of the liquid product in each tank ofthe manifold set of tanks measured at the three or more reconciliationtimes. With this data, variance data indicative of a difference betweenthe physical volume and the three or more volume book balances can becalculated and data for use in determining the volume of the liquidproduct in the manifold set of tanks, based upon a measured height ofthe liquid product in the manifold set of tanks, can be generated. Arelationship between three or more data points representative of thevariance data can be generated and used to calibrate the manifold set oftanks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the invention briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a general overview of a system for the delivery,tracking, and reconciliation of liquid product inventory according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of one method of implementing exampleembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a dispenser at a liquidproduct retail facility in accordance with example embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a graph showing multiple volume measurements within atank over a period of time;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one method of minimizing the effect ofwaves or ripples in the tank, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method for identifying sales thatare active beyond the bounds of tank manifold readings using a late pumpread rule in accordance with example embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of another method for identifying salesthat are active beyond the bounds of tank manifold readings using anearly pump read rule in accordance with example embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates a graphical representation of an exemplary volume vs.height graph usable in the tank calibration process of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a graphical representation of an exemplary volume vs.variance graph usable in the tank calibration process of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 illustrates another graphical representation of an exemplaryvolume vs. height graph usable in the tank calibration process of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates another a graphical representation of an exemplaryvolume vs. variance graph usable in the tank calibration process of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates yet another a graphical representation of anexemplary volume vs. variance graph usable in the tank calibrationprocess of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic representation of a computer andassociated systems within which various embodiments of the presentinvention can be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention extend to methods, systems, andcomputer program products associated with the delivery, tracking, andreconciliation of liquid and non-liquid product inventory. Theembodiments can include or use one or more special purpose orgeneral-purpose computers, including various computer hardware, asdiscussed in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 13.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods,systems, and computer program products for liquid product inventoryreconciliation between the physical measurements of the product storedin storage tanks when compared to the amount of product sold (i.e.,pumped out of the storage tanks) and the amount of product delivered(i.e., pumped or otherwise delivered to the storage tank) as recorded onthe books of the retail facility and/or corporate offices; i.e., thebook balance or inventory. Additional embodiments of the presentinvention relate to methods, systems, and computer program products fordocumenting and controlling the flow of liquid product from a wholesaledistribution storage unit to the retail facility and, ultimately, to theindividual consumer. Although the following description of theembodiments of the present invention will typically refer to petroleumfuels as the liquid product, the following embodiments are alsoapplicable to other liquid and non-liquid products for whichreconciliation between the physical product and the book balance isdesired. Accordingly, the following discussion referencing petroleumproducts or other specific products for reconciliation is used forillustrative purposes only and it is not meant to limit or otherwisenarrow the scope of the present invention unless otherwise explicitlyclaimed.

Initially described herein is a system and method for the centralcontrol and monitoring of product delivery placement based on ananticipation of delivery through a request and authorization process.This load/delivery authorization process provides for an aggregateprocurement control with a centralized inventory management system thatis capable of identifying irregularities in a real-time manner in orderto immediately rectify such irregularities.

Following the discussion of this system, certain aspects of the retailfacility associated with the system will be described. In addition,descriptions of various additional systems, methods, and computerprogram products related to the tracking and reconciliation of liquidfuel inventory throughout the exemplary system will be provided.

The following discussion will refer to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Turningnow to FIG. 1, schematically illustrated is a system 100 usable for thedelivery, tracking, and reconciliation of liquid and non-liquid productinventory. Generally, the methods, systems, devices, and computerprogram products of the present invention can track, monitor, andmeasure the temperature, volume, and/or density of the fuel at numerouspoints within the system 100, and perform a reconciliation process usingthe tracked, monitored, and measured temperatures, volumes, and/ordensities. By tracking these various temperatures, volumes, and/ordensities measured data can be corrected or adjusted to bring measuredvolumes into net terms, i.e., adjusting for the change in temperature ofthe liquid product through the delivery process. This can minimize theeffect that temperature change can have on variances in thereconciliation process.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method 180 that implements oneprocess for using system 100. The system illustratively represents theprocesses and methods for supplying a liquid product to a carrier from afuel source or rack (i.e. a wholesale distribution storage unit),delivering the liquid product to a retail facility, and dispensing theliquid product into a consumer's vehicle or other container.

In the system illustrated in FIG. 1, a fuel source, referred to as a“rack” 105, contains a quantity of liquid product. The rack 105 includesor can be connected to a computerized system that communicates with acorporate based or centralized inventory management (CIM) system 120.The rack 105 can include a measurement system 106. Measurement system106 can include devices to measure, by way of example and notlimitation, a product temperature device 107 to measure liquid producttemperature, a product dispensed volume device 108 to measure liquidproduct volume, and a product density device 109 to measure liquidproduct density. Each of these measurements can be communicated back tothe CIM 120 using a variety of different communication techniques andtechnologies. For instance, wireless or wired connections, includingcombinations of the same, can be used to communicate the data betweenthe measurement devise and the CIM 120. The wireless connection caninclude using any type of electromagnetic radiation to propagate data orsignals between the measurement devise and the CIM 120. The connectionscan utilize the Internet, local area networks, wide area networks, andassociated hardware and software to enable deliver of signals and/ordata between the measurement devise and the CIM 120.

The CIM system 120, in turn, can be connected to one or more retailsystems 130, located at one or more retail facilities or sites 128,which form part of a computer system used to operate or control a retailfuel center or any other facility that includes one or more productstorage tanks 155. Each of the CIM system 120 and the retail system(s)130 can include one or more computers capable of storing, transmittingand/or processing various types of data. Exemplary computers aredescribed in more detail with reference to FIG. 13. The data transmittedand received by these computers can include any specific measurements ofthe various information used to form the inventive systems describedherein. By way of example and not limitation, this information caninclude measurements of fuel volume, temperature, density, the time ofthe measurements, and any other type of information that can be usefulto make the calculations described below.

In some embodiments, the CIM system 120 can be connected to dozens ofindividual retail systems 130, each having unique and time specificneeds for fuel deliveries. The CIM system 120 is one example of acentralized station that can be used to monitor and control the movementof liquid product, as described in more detail below. Likewise, the CIMsystem 120 can be one example of a fuel management system used anddescribed as part of the inventive systems and methods discussed below.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the retail system 130 can communicate with andoptionally control various other components or devices that are locatedat the retail facility 128 where the retail system 130 is located. Forinstance, the retail facility 128 can include one or more tanks 155,only one being illustrated, to hold quantities of liquid product. Thesetanks 155 can receive fuel from the carrier 110 through a drop head 180and deliver fuel to a dispenser 145, for delivery to a consumer of theretail facility 128, by way of a pickup tube 160.

To obtain accurate accounting of the quantities of fuel within the oneor more tanks 155, various different sensors, meters, and systems canidentify (i) the height of fuel within a tank, (ii) the temperature offuel within a tank, (iii) the volume or flow rate of fuel out of thetank, (iv) the temperature of fuel flowing out of the tank, and (v) oneor more time-stamps when measurements were taken and the data generated.Additionally, sensors, meters, and systems can be used to track othercharacteristics of properties or the fuel, including, but not limitedto, the specific gravity of the fuel, the density of the fuel, etc.

In FIG. 1, the volume of fuel within tanks 155 can be measured andtracked using a tank probe 175 that delivers signals or datarepresentative of heights and temperatures of fuel 165 to a tank gaugeconsole 135 and so to the retail system 130. The tank probe 175 can beor cooperate with a thermistor or thermistor probe that senses thetemperature of the fuel, air, and water within the tank 155. The tankgauge console 135, and optionally the tank probe 175 and/or the retailsystem 130, can include a time-stamp system 137 that can assign times tothe signals and data. A clock is one example of a time-stamp system, butothers are known to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that one or more of the consoles, probes, andsystems can be incorporated into a single device that performs thedesired functions of the console, probe, and system. Furthermore, itwill be understood that, with alternate technologies available, thevolume can be determined through methods other than the sensing of theheight of the fluid. In other embodiments, the probe 175 can alsoinclude device to measure the density of the product in the tank 155.

To aid in tracking the movement of fuel at the retail facility 128,sensors, meters, and systems are also provided at the dispenser 145.These sensors, meters, and systems track the flow and temperature offuel as it is delivered from the dispenser 145 to a consumer of theretail facility 128. Readings or data 150 from the flow meter and thetemperature sensor, i.e., thermocouple, can be delivered to a dataacquisition unit 140 for storage and subsequent delivery to the retailsystem 130 as needed. Optionally, the data acquisition unit 140 caninclude another time-stamp system 137 that assigns time values to thedata, or groups of data, generated by sensors, meters, and systems ofthe dispenser 145. Additional discussion of the sensors, meters, andsystems, and the associated measurement data, will be described ingreater detail hereinafter.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a driver or carrier 110 canrequest delivery instructions or a supply option to deliver to a branchor retail operator, such as the retail facility 128 associated with theretail system 130, as represented by block 202. The carrier 110 canrequest such an instruction from the CIM system 120 using a portable orother type of computing device having computer-executable instructionsand/or computer-readable media, for example. Specific details concerningsuch a portable computing device are discussed below with reference tothe computer of FIG. 13.

The CIM system 120 can evaluate or monitor data and reference the mosteconomical order feasible for a particular retail operator or branch,using a cost-minimizing, linearly constrained optimization processesthat considers, among other things, the relative cost of deliveredsupply options, supply purchase fulfillment obligations, and/or retaildemand constraints. For example, because the CIM system 120 is capableof monitoring the needs of several retail systems 130, i.e., trackingthe inventory at one or more retail systems 130, the CIM system 120 candetermine those retail facilities 128 that are in greater need of fuelproduct relative to other retail facilities 128. In addition, the CIMsystem 120 can take other factors into consideration by monitoring otherdata, such as the geographical location of the carrier 110 relative to arack 105 where the product can be loaded, as well as the relativegeographic relationship between the carrier 110, the rack 105 and theretail facility and its associated retail system 130.

Upon taking these and other factors into consideration, and as part ofthe request represented by block 202, the CIM system 120 can post anorder with an order number to the carrier 110 and to the referenced rack105. The carrier 110 can then accept or reject the order, such asrejecting the order with a reason code indicative of the reason for therejection. For instance, the carrier 110 can request the supply optionfrom a computing device via, e.g., the Internet, and the CIM system 120can post the order back to the driver and rack simultaneously via asimilar automated computing network. Alternatively, the carrier 110 canreject the order by sending numerical, textual or other codesrepresentative of the reason for the inability of the carrier 110 toaccept the order. For instance, the carrier 110 can reject the order inthe event that a truck may have developed a maintenance problemrequiring immediate attention, so that the carrier 110 cannot make animmediate pick up. Other reasons can include, by way of example and notlimitation, the supplier is out of fuel, the terminal is out of fuel,the terminal is below a minimum amount of fuel, the customer creditlimit at the facility has been exceeded, the supplier allocation hasbeen exceeded, there is insufficient time for the driver to make thedelivery, or the driver or delivery vehicle are not authorized toreceive deliveries at the facility.

Of course, accepting and rejecting the order can include an automatedprocedure performed through various mediums, e.g., wirelesscommunications such as infrared, or radio frequency communication.Further, this type of communication can utilize hardwired directconnections. Accordingly, the use of the Internet for relayinginformation in this embodiment and subsequent embodiments is forillustrative purposes only and it is not meant to limit or otherwisenarrow the scope of the present invention unless otherwise explicitlyclaimed. It should be noted that any of the computer relatedcommunication processes described herein can utilize similar automatedprocesses. Accordingly, although a particular automated process may ormay not be referenced in the following examples and description, itshould be understood that the methods, systems, and computer programproducts described herein can utilize any of the above described mediumsand any other well know means to communicate and practice the variousprocesses described herein.

In the system described above, it can be generally assumed that thereare one or more computers at each of the rack 105, the carrier 110and/or the driver, the CIM system 120, and the retail system 130, all ofwhich have the capability to at least communicate with one or more ofthe disclosed systems using wired or wireless technologies, such as, butnot limited to, Internet, wireless, infrared, RF communications, etc.Further, each of the components used to measure temperature, tankvolume, flow rate, etc., time-stamp the data, and perform thereconciliation processes can utilize or include one or more computercomponents. General details concerning the types of computer or computersystems that can be used are discussed below with reference to FIG. 13.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the carrier 110 accepts(or possibly even rejects) the order, the CIM system 120 can update thestatus of the order and forward ordering details to the loading terminalor rack 105. In the event that the carrier 110 accepts the order, thecarrier 110 can arrive at the loading terminal or rack 105, andreference the order with the order number previously received from theCIM system 120. The loading terminal or rack 105 references the orderdetail via the order number and authorizes constrained loading for thecarrier 110 in accordance with the order detail received from the CIMsystem 120. The carrier 110 can then receive delivery of the product ina delivery vehicle, as represented by block 204 of FIG. 2. Once theproduct is loaded into the delivery vehicle, a computer located at therack 105 or loading terminal can forward an electronic transactionrecord (ETR) to the CIM system 120 such as, a corporate dispatch/centralordering system of the CIM system 120, thereby altering and updating theCIM system 120 with data indicative of the completion of the load.

At this time, the carrier 110 can receive a paper bill-of-lading (BOL)from the loading terminal or rack 105 that may subsequently be used toappropriately and accurately update the liquid product inventory bookbalance during the liquid product reconciliation process. The paper BOLis required under Department of Transportation rules to be available forinspection in vehicles transporting commercial cargo on U.S. highways.It is understood that exemplary embodiments of the present invention donot require the use of paper during any phase of the operation. Theembodiments of the present invention can be fully and completelyautomated, thus allowing for all information to be passed back and forthbetween the various entities completely electronically. The BOLinformation can be substantially similar to the information contained inthe ETR, which can include some or all of the information discussedbelow in appropriate data fields. In some embodiments, the ETR can alsobe sent to the carrier 110, for automated forwarding to the retailsystem 130 upon arrival at the delivery site.

The BOL/ETR can include the route start and end time, a freight billnumber and a truck and trailer(s) number(s) as appropriate. Further, theBOL can include the customer name and customer ID, the supplier name andsupplier ID, the ship from name and ship from ID and ship to name andthe ship to ID. Additionally, the BOL can include a date, a start andend time and/or a wait time. This BOL can also include the supplier BOLproduct name, product ID, the gross volume, the net volume as a functionof temperature, the specific gravity of the product, and the density ofthe product. Moreover, the BOL can include the BOL volume unit ofmeasure (UOM), the density UOM, the temperature and the temperature UOM,the product name and the product ID. Other information can also beincluded on the BOL as appropriate or desired.

Once a load of fuel is received, the carrier 110 can then transport theproduct in the delivery vehicle to the retail facility, as representedby block 206 in FIG. 2. Upon arriving at the appropriate retailfacility, the carrier 110 can request a delivery authorization 115 bysending load arrival information to the CIM system 120, which can thenforward the information to the retail system 130, as represented byblock 208 in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the delivery authorization 115 canbe sent directly to the retail system 130, which in turn forwards theinformation to the CIM system 120. In either case, at this stage, thedriver can provide the retail system 130 with information from the BOL,e.g., the product type, density, temperature of the product at the rack105, gross gallons, temperature corrected gallons, i.e., net gallons,etc. In some embodiments, this information can be provided by the driver110 to the retail system 130 or the CIM system 120 using automatedsystems, such as, but not limited to, wireless transmission of the ETRto one or both of the retail system 130 and the CIM system 120. Sincethe CIM system 120 has alerted the retail site and its associated retailsystem 130 that an inbound carrier is coming, the carrier 110 need onlypull into the parking lot and electronically transmit the ETR data tothe retail system 130. This saves a great deal of time over the currentmanual methods, and further decreases the chance of human error.

It should be noted that the ETR/BOL can also be used to generate variousaccounting reports and/or journal entries within the CIM system 120, theretail system 130, with the carrier 110, and/or with the fuel supplierwho controls the rack 105. For example, when the driver delivers theload, an entry can be made reflecting an account payable to both thecarrier 110 and the fuel supplier from the retail outlet. The carrier110 can generate an entry reflecting an account payable to the driverand an account receivable from the retail outlet. The supplier can alsogenerate an entry reflecting an account receivable from the retailoutlet. The carrier 110 can also provide additional information on theBOL such as the supplier, the terminal where the product was loaded orthe rack location 105, the carrier 110 or driver information, etc.

Upon appropriate interactions between one or more of the rack 105, theCIM system 120, the carrier 110, and the retail system 130 that isassociated with the facility or retail operator where the delivery offuel or “drop” 170 will occur, the CIM system 120 can grantauthorization for the delivery. These interactions can include a numberof different steps. For example, the retail system 130 can verify thatthe product type and product volume match the requirements for a storagetank 155 designated to receive the drop 170. If this is not the case, adifferent storage tank can be identified to receive the drop 170. TheCIM system 120 can then reference the tank manifolds containing productmatching the transaction record and indicate an appropriate tank 155into which the carrier 110 is to make the drop 170. The driver can thenproceed to the designated storage tank fill connection and begin makingthe various connections required to physically deliver the product fromthe delivery vehicle into the storage tank. However, the driver does notactually begin the delivery process until he receives specificauthorization.

Prior to giving the authorization to begin the physical product deliveryprocess, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide for aprocess for reconciling the liquid product book balance and records atthe CIM system 120 to the physical quantity of liquid at the retailfacility 128 available for sale. As will be described in greater detailbelow, and unlike prior systems, this reconciliation process can be donein a virtual real-time system even during the dispensing of liquidproduct out of the tank 155 and/or other tanks at the retail facility128. Of course, such reconciliation can also be done while the retailsystem 130 is static. It will also be understood that obtaining themeasurement data can be performed in real-time, while the reconciliationprocess is performed in a virtual real-time. Accordingly, the use of thesystem as described herein in performing the reconciliation process atspecific intervals is used for illustrative purpose only and is notmeant to limit or otherwise narrow the scope of the present inventionunless explicitly claimed.

In any event, some embodiments provide an inventory measuring probe 175utilized to make the actual measurements of the height of the fuel inthe tank, or in some embodiments, the actual volume in the tank. Theseheight measurements can be converted to specific volume measurements, asdiscussed below in much greater detail. In some embodiments, tank probe175 provides a measure of both the fuel level and the water level withinthe tank. In still other embodiments, probe 175 also provides ameasurement of the specific gravity or the density of the fuel and/orthe fuel temperature. In large volume facilities, this process can berepeated for every delivery that occurs during the day. Additionally,and as described in greater detail below, a snapshot of the fuel levelin the tank can be taken on-demand. In any event, after performing thebook to physical reconciliation, the system 100 can then post thetransaction record to the driver for validation, whereupon the carrier110 validates the transaction record and the CIM system 120 posts anauthorization to the driver to drop the fuel, as represented by block210 in FIG. 2.

With this authorization, the carrier 110 then begins the delivery of theproduct into the designated tank(s) 155, as represented by block 212 inFIG. 2. During product delivery, the CIM system 120 and the retailsystem 130 can monitor the flow rate of fuel into the tank 155 as thefuel passes from the delivery vehicle of the carrier 110, throughlinking piping, conduits, and manifolds, before the fuel is deliveredinto the tank 155. For example, the systems 120 and/or 130 can monitorthe drop to the tank 155 by specifically monitoring the fuel height inthe designated storage tank 155, in order to insure that the appropriateliquid product is dropped or delivered into the appropriate tank 155.This can be a function of the flow rate from the dispensers relative tothe height of product in the tank 155. More specifically, because theflow rate through the dispenser can be greater than the flow rate of thedrop from the carrier 110 into the tank 155, this embodiment of thepresent invention can compensate and still recognize into which tank thecarrier 110 is making the drop. If it is recognized that the carrier 110is dropping in an unauthorized tank, then the appropriate action can betaken. For example, exemplary embodiments provide that as the CIM system120 or the retail system 130, as the case may be, monitor the varioustanks and identify that an unauthorized drop is occurring, the CIMsystem 120 can indicate an improper drop to the retail system 130. Theretail system 130 can then initiate an alarm, or in some embodiments, alock down of the delivery vehicle control valve 113 to interrupt theflow into the wrong tank. In other words, exemplary embodiments providefor the ability for a signal to be transmitted from the retail system130 to the carrier 110 during an improper drop, which triggers asolenoid that will automatically shut down the fuel valve 113 in thetruck and stop the drop in order to mitigate cross-contamination. Thesolenoid valve 113 can be initiated as its control module (not shown)communicates electronically via RF, WiFi, or other wireless methods tothe CIM 120 or to the retail system 130. In some embodiments, thesolenoid valve 113 can be opened automatically when the deliveryauthorization is granted and received by the carrier 110 delivering theload of fuel.

This same shut down process can be used when a sensor in the tankindicates to the retail system 130 that intermixing of fuels isoccurring or about to occur. For instance, the system 130 canautomatically or manually initiate a shutoff process that can preventfuel intermixing, e.g., that prevents diesel fuel from being droppedinto a gasoline storage tank, or vice versa.

In addition to monitoring fuel delivery, the sensors within each tankcan monitor the height of water in each tank. Float heights of both thefuel and water floats can be monitored such that if the water content inthe tank is too high, thereby causing a risk that liquid product beingpumped out of the dispensers 145 contain a high water content, then theCIM system 120, (or the retail system 130 itself, as the case may be)can relay to the retail system 130 such information. The dispensers 145can then also be shut down in a similar fashion as that of the carrier110, to mitigate any damage to the customer's vehicle. In yet otherembodiments, if the drop process is stopped due to high water content,the retail system 130 can automatically begin draining some of the waterfrom the tank 155. As water vapor routinely condenses inside the tank155, this process is done on a periodic basis regardless of the dropschedule. In other words, as part of the anticipation of a drop, aspecific tank to receive a product can be identified and flagged. Thatparticular tank, as well as all other tanks at the facility, can bemonitored to determine in real-time if the drop occurs at the propertank.

Upon drop completion, the carrier 110 or driver can notify the CIMsystem 120, where upon the CIM system 120 updates its central bookbalance as per the loading transaction record received from the rack 105and confirmed by the carrier 110. Thereafter, the CIM system 120performs another book to physical reconciliation process, optionallyaccounting for volume differences due to temperature and density of theproduct.

Once reconciliation is complete, the CIM system 120 can then generate areal-time exception report of various types and post it to theappropriate users. In other words, exemplary embodiments provide for thereconciliation at the beginning and ending period of a delivery. Thisallows the system, among other things, to automatically determine if thefull amount of the load (as indicated in the BOL and loading ETR) wasdelivered. If not, the driver and/or drop or retail system or facilitycan be immediately notified of the irregularity and the appropriateaction can be taken.

For example, if the second reconciliation process indicates that thefull amount of product has not been received, the various connectionscan be checked to ensure appropriate air ventilation into the deliveryvehicle to effectuate emptying of the delivery vehicle. A visualinspection of the delivery vehicle can also be conducted to ensure thatthe entire load has been dropped. It is possible that the driver mightverify that the load has been completely delivered into the tank, butthe reconciliation balance still shows a shortage.

As can be appreciated, irregularities from the reported drop versusinformation provided in the BOL can occur for several reasons. Forexample, flaws in the truck design can cause fuel product to remainwithin the carrier 110. Further, the irregularity can be an indicationthat the carrier 110 was shorted at the rack 105 during loading. Furtherstill, the irregularity can be an indication of a faulty valve or thatthat tank or valve was not fully pressurized in order to open, allowingfor the full drop of the liquid product. Additionally, the irregularitycan be an indication of theft or other fraudulent activity, which canimmediately be identified through exemplary embodiments. That is,because the book to physical reconciliation process is performedimmediately before and after a drop, the CIM system 120 can notify theretail facility's retail system 130, or vice versa, and the appropriateaction can be taken depending upon the specific irregularity.

Through use of the system 100, and the reconciliation process usablewith the system 100, irregularities in tracked data can be identifiedand investigated within a short period of time. This is in contrast toexisting systems where irregularities cannot be identified forpotentially many hours following delivery of the liquid product to theretail facility 128.

It will be understood that there are various other reasons for thesystem identifying variances or irregularities between actual measureddata and data stored at the CIM system 120 that represents what theactual measured data should be. Table 1 below illustrates a list of someexemplary reasons, while other reasons for the variances can also occur.TABLE 1 Category Reason Loading Incorrect Volume Measurement IncorrectDensity Measurement Incorrect Temperature Measurement Wrong ProductTransporting Temperature Change Trailer Evaporation Trailer Leak TheftDelivery Delivery Evaporation Equipment Leak Product/Tank MismatchTrailer Retain On Sight Storage Incorrect Tank Calibration Faulty ProbeTemperature Change Tank Leak Tank Evaporation Theft On Sight Plumbing:Temperature Change Plumbing Leak Submersible Pump Leak On SightDispensing Temperature Change Dispenser Leak Dispenser CalibrationPulser Tampering Pump Test Override

During the various reconciliation processes performed within the system100, such as before and after a delivery, the CIM system 120 can isolatesome of the variance categories from other categories, thereby allowinga more accurate determination of the correlation between variance andthe true causes for that variance. For example, if a variance occursduring a time period in which no delivery has taken place, but fuel hasbeen pumped, the process can rule out the “Loading”, “Transporting” and“Delivery” sections for variance, so the process can more accuratelycorrelate the variance to the “On Site” sections.

Turning now to FIG. 3, illustrated is one configuration of the dispenser145 which delivers fuel to consumers of the retail facility 128 (FIG.1). The dispenser 145 can include an inlet conduit 214 that receivesliquid product from the tank 155 (FIG. 1). The inlet conduit 214 fluidlycommunicates with a meter 216 that is affected as the liquid fuelproduct passes along the inlet conduit 214 and out through an outletconduit 218, which is in fluid communication with a dispensing nozzle220. As is standard with most dispensers 145, a pulser 222 is providedthat sends pulse signals to a dispenser volume indicator or totalizer224 for determining and/or displaying a volume and price of fueldispensed when the nozzle 220 is active. The pulser 222 cooperates witha shaft (not shown) of the dispenser's meter 216 and changes themechanical rotational movement of the meter 216 into electrical pulsesrepresentative of the number of revolutions of the meter shaft. Bycounting the number of pulses in the totalizer 224, the quantity of fuelflowing through the nozzle 220 can be tracked. The signals from thepulser 222 can be used by the totalizer 224 to count accumulated pulses,which can be converted, in other dispenser electronics, to volume offuel flowing through the nozzle 220.

Exemplary embodiments provide for the data acquisition unit 140 (alsoshown in FIG. 1) to have a dedicated totalizer 226 and a control module228 that can be connected or linked in parallel to the totalizer 224.Optionally, the data acquisition unit 140, and the control module 228,can receive signals from the totalizer 226. Similar to the standardtotalizer 224, the dedicated totalizer 226 receives pulses from thepulser 222 in order to determine the volume of liquid product pumpedfrom the meter 216 through nozzle 220. In addition, the volume can alsobe adjusted by the temperature readings from a temperature module 230that determines temperature with a temperature probe 232 disposed withineither the inlet conduit 214, the meter 216, the outlet conduit 218 orthe conduit extending from the pump meter 216 to the nozzle 220. Thecontrol module 228 within the data acquisition unit 140 can assigntime-stamps to the gathered temperature and volume readings, and reportthis information to the retail facility point of sale (POS) 236 or theretail system 130 at the retail facility 128 (FIG. 1), which willeventually be transmitted to the CIM system 120. This information can betransmitted via a wireless connection as shown by antenna 234. However,data can be transferred via a wire directly connected to the retailedfacility point of sale 236. Alternatively, the data can be reported viathe Internet to the CIM system 120. Of course, other ways oftransmitting the data collected by the data acquisition unit 140 arealso available. Any specific method for transmitting the data from theretail facility 130 directly to the CIM system 120 can be used. Theabove example is provided for illustrative purposes only, and is notmeant to limit or otherwise narrow the scope of the present inventionunless explicitly claimed.

As mentioned above, the control module 228 can time-stamp thetemperature data and volume data in a number of different ways. Forexample, the control module 228 can include an actual time of day thatcan be updated via satellite or other means in order to keep the controlmodule 228 accurately calibrated. In another embodiment, the controlmodule 228 keeps time from the initiation of the reconciliation processas an offset from the time that has passed since the initiation of thereconciliation process. This offset can then be added to thereconciliation start time at the retail facility 128 (FIG. 1), or theretail system 130, for ensuring that the time-stamp on the measurementdata corresponds to the time-stamp at the retail system 130. This hasthe advantage of not having a continual need for updating the time onthe control module 228. In addition, because the reconciliation processmanipulates time-stamped volume readings from various times, if theclock within the control module 228 is only slightly inaccurate, themethods and processes described herein adequately compensate for suchinaccuracies. Nevertheless, any particular type of time-stamping can beused, and those described herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not meant to limit or otherwise narrow the scope of the presentinvention unless explicitly claimed.

As previously mentioned, the additional or dedicated totalizer 226 canbe utilized for several different purposes. For example, readings fromthe additional totalizer 226 can be compared to volumes reported fromthe weights and measures certified dispenser firmware for determining anappropriate pulse to gallon conversion ratio. This conversion ratio canthen be used during subsequent reconciliation processes for detectingsuch things as clearance in the meter 216 caused by normal wear andtear. Further, this conversion can also be monitored such that, if itdeviates from some predetermined threshold, an exception can be raisedand appropriate action taken. This second or dedicated totalizer 226 canalso be used to determine other problems in the system 100 (FIG. 1),such as theft, a bad totalizer 224, a bad pulser 222 and/or even aproblem with the dedicated totalizer 226. The values read from thetotalizer 226 during the reconciliation process even allow the CIMsystem 120 to determine historical flow rates achievable through eachdispenser 145.

As would be recognized, the pulse to gallon conversion ratio can becalculated by taking the volume at the pump head, which the localgovernmental weights and measures department certifies as beingaccurate, referencing the totalized pulses that were measured throughthe dedicated totalizer 226, and dividing the totalized pulses from thededicated totalizer 226 by the weights and measures certified gallon, tocome up with the new pulse to gallon conversion ratio. This pulse togallon conversion ratio can then be monitored such that, if it changesby more then a certain percentage (e.g., 5%), an exception report can begenerated indicating such things as a problem with the pulser 222 notbeing consistent. In addition, this process of determining a pulse togallon ratio in essence calibrates or allows calibration of eachdedicated totalizer 226 upon completion of a sales transaction. In otherwords, this provides for an automated method to validate the totalizer224, as a self checking way to ensure that the volumes reported areaccurate. In addition, this embodiment can provide an automated way tocalibrate the dedicated totalizer 226.

It should be noted that, while FIG. 3 shows the data acquisition unit140 as being part of the dispenser 145, this is for the purpose ofillustration only. In other embodiments, the data acquisition unit 140can be physically located within the retail facility 128 (FIG. 1).Alternately, the data acquisition units 140 for several differentdispensers 145 can be located in the vicinity of the dispensers 145 orthe retail facility 128.

Turning again to FIG. 1, now that we have discussed the general featuresof the system 100, we will begin to discuss some additional methods,systems, and computer program products for using the system 100 tocontrol, monitor, track, and reconcile the storage and delivery of fuelat various locations within the system 100. By so doing, the methods,processes, and other systems can be used to reconcile measured physicalvolumes of fuel within one or more tanks against book inventory orbalances maintained at the CIM system 120 and/or the retail system 130.

As implied above, the system 100 can be used to perform on-demand orperiodic reconciliation of a physically measured volume of a fuelproduct against the book balance or inventory. For example, thereconciliation process can be performed continually throughout the dayat five minute increments or other incremental time period. This wouldallow for the immediate notification of deviations such as theft inorder to identify the culprit and take the appropriate action.Alternatively, or in addition to the continual reconciliation processes,on demand reconciliation of the physically measured volume of a liquidproduct against the book balance or inventory can occur at any giventime throughout the day, even when high volumes of product are beingdispensed to customers. This provides for an accurate measure of alldelivered and dispensed product, regardless of temperature variationsthroughout the system.

The reconciliation process generally entails tracking fuel flowing intoand out of the various storage tanks within the system 100. Individualor groups of tanks can be monitored, and the volume and temperature offuel within individual or groups of tanks can be reconciled against thestored book balance or inventory stored at the CIM system 120. Toperform the reconciliation, data from the various tank gauges and (thedispensers (e.g., fuel temperature, volumes, pending and completedtransactions, etc.) can be rapidly gathered. The data can beindividually time-stamped and then manipulated to a common time-stampbefore being compared against data representative of the book balance orinventory recorded at the CIM system 120. Any disparity between the datasets is considered as a variance. For accuracy, the physically measureddata can be recorded in a rapid manner (e.g., in time intervals of lessthan 2 seconds). With a large data set, the accuracy of thereconciliation process is increased.

The book to physical reconciliation process is described as a virtualreal-time process due to the fact that the rapid read of measurements donot simultaneously occur because of latencies within the system andother complications. Nevertheless, these readings, or data, for meters,temperatures of the liquid product, liquid product height in the tank,and other physical measurements, can be brought back to a single pointin time for the book to physical reconciliation process.

Following hereinafter is a more detailed description of thereconciliation process and associated methods, systems and computerprogram products. The CIM system 120 can initiate the reconciliationprocess by initiating a reconciliation request to the retail system 130at the appropriate retail facility 128. This request can entaildelivering data to the retail system 130, the data including a number ofdata fields. The data fields associated with the request can include,but are not limited to, (i) retail facility ID, (ii) date and time ofrequest, (iii) the reconciliation time period, i.e., the time periodover which the data is to be accumulated, and (iv) tank and/or manifoldID's, it being understood that single or multiple tanks can beassociated with a tank manifold ID.

As can be recognized, the reconciliation time period can be either hardcoded or it can be an adjustable time period. Further, the time periodmay be a default value if no value is set by the user. In any event, thelonger the time period used to accumulate the data, the higher theconfidence level and accuracy of the reconciliation or the physicalmeasurements for the reconciliation process. Because this time durationcan be dynamically adjusted and/or predetermined or hard coded withinthe system, any particular reference to how the duration foraccumulating data is determined is used for illustrative purposes onlyand is not meant to limit or otherwise narrow the scope of the presentinvention.

Upon receiving the request, the retail system 130 (i) checks the statusof the outstanding transactions at the one or more dispensers 145, (ii)generates a base time-stamp for the request, and (iii) initiates eachmeasuring device to accumulate data. The devices used to measure thedata can include, but are not limited to, devices that provide liquidproduct flow through the dispensers, liquid volume level measurements,liquid product specific gravity or density, liquid product temperatureat the tank, at the dispenser, etc., and dispenser sales measurementsthrough meter readings and temperature readings 150. Data acquisitionunits 140 are utilized to rapidly collect or accumulate measurements andassign a time-stamp to each measurement as appropriate. This rapid readof measurement data from the measurement devices can be made moreefficient by limiting the CPU processing power used by other devices inorder to accumulate the maximum amount of data within the specified timeperiod. For example, the reading of leak detecting sensors or opticalsensors that detect if there is condensation or liquid somewhere thereshouldn't be, can be shut down during the rapid read process, in orderto more fully utilize the CPU power of these probe interfaces. Thisallows the CPU to focus on rapidly reading physical measurement data,such as tank gauge height, dispenser readings or data, and temperaturereadings or data throughout the tank manifold system. In someembodiments, certain tank gauge probes can be singled out forreconciliation activity, allowing the tank gauge console 135 to furthernarrow the data collection interval.

As these data acquisition units 140 collect the measurement data fromthe various devices, the retail system 130 receives the measurementdata. Either the data acquisition units 140 or the retail system 130 canassign precise time-stamps to each one. These time-stamps can then besent along with sales status data to the CIM system 120. Generally, thedata sent to the CIM system 120 can include, but is not limited to,general facility data, tank specific data and dispenser specific data.For instance, the general facility data can include, but is not limitedto, the (i) retail facility ID, (ii) date and time that the data issent, and (iii) ambient temperature. The tank specific data, caninclude, but is not limited to, (i) volume measurement, (ii) heightmeasurement, (iii) temperature measurement, (iv) beginning date and timeof the data accumulation, (v) tank/manifold ID, (vi) code identifyingthe fuel within the tank or set of manifolded tanks, (vii) tank number,(viii) water level, and (ix) density. The dispenser specific data caninclude, but is not limited to, (i) dispenser ID, (ii) averagetemperature of sale, (iii) fuel volume, (iv) closed sale or transactioninformation, including transaction time, invoice number, volume,temperature, and tank(s) from which the fuel was dispensed. One or moreof the above data can have an associated time-stamp that is set by thedata acquisition unit 140, the measuring device itself, and/or theretail system 130.

One example of a sample data series according to this embodiment isshown in Table 2, below, where “N”—indicates the tank is not tooturbulent to postpone concise volume determination; “O” references anopen transaction; “C” references a complete transaction; “W” referenceswater; “S” references a mathematically smoothed height determined by thetank gauge console 135, from a number of recent raw height readings; “F”references real-time raw height readings reported by tank gauge console135; and “Temp” references temperature of fuel dispensed.

It should be noted that, while Table 2 shows some examples of the typesof data that can be collected, such as a tank temperature reading, pumpor dispenser dispensed volume, and tank volume, these readings areprovided by way of example only. Many other types of data can becollected, over both very long (e.g. days) and very short (e.g. manyreadings per second) periods of time. Additionally, readings for aplurality of pumps or dispensers, tanks, delivery vehicles, etc. can beincluded when performing the reconciliation process. TABLE 2 TABLE TANKTANK TEMPERATURE TURBULANCE TANK READING 4 67.74 N TABLE PUMP READ_TIMETEMP QUAN TRAN_TYPE INTERIM_SALE 14 28-DEC-2004 11:37:41:013000 67 .55 OINTERIM_SALE 14 28-DEC-2004 11:37:42:036000 67 .55 O INTERIM_SALE 828-DEC-2004 11:37:41:064000 68 12.38 O INTERIM_SALE 8 28-DEC-200411:37:42:066000 69 12.38 O INTERIM_SALE 9 28-DEC-2004 11:37:39:999000 635.593 C TABLE TANK READ_TIME LEVEL_TYPE HEIGHT TANK_LEVEL 4 28-DEC-200411:37:40:000000 W .22 TANK_LEVEL 4 28-DEC-2004 11:37:40:001000 S 76.53TANK_LEVEL 4 28-DEC-2004 11:37:40:114000 F 76.52 TANK_LEVEL 428-DEC-2004 11:37:40:120000 F 76.52 TANK_LEVEL 4 28-DEC-200411:37:40:126000 F 76.52

When the time-stamped data is forwarded to the CIM system 120, the CIMsystem 120 can then update the perpetual inventory book balance basedoff the virtual real-time sales reports and the dispenser(s) status.Further, the CIM system 120 can derive statistically smoothed physicalreadings at a single point in time and then reconcile book inventorywith physical inventory, generate various exception reports, and postthose reports to the appropriate users.

As mentioned above, the retail system 130 can initiate rapid dataaccumulation from numerous measuring devices. This rapid accumulation ofdata at various points in time has many advantages over existing systemsand techniques. For example, the rapid accumulation of data can be usedfor the physical volume determination within the inventory tank at apoint in time using the plurality of data measured during the timeinterval. In other words, in order to determine the amount of liquidproduct within a tank, the difference in volume meter readings is takenat rapid intervals. Due to an inherent attenuation wave motion of thesurface of the liquid in the tank 155 after a drop of the product intothe tank 155, it can be difficult to accurately determine the physicalvolume of the liquid within the tank. Additionally, the pickup tube 160can vibrate when product flows through the dispenser 145, causingadditional turbulence and again making it difficult to accuratelydetermine the physical volume of the liquid within the tank 155.

The adverse affects of this wave motion on a typical reconciliationprocess can be overcome through the reconciliation process of thepresent invention. Turning to FIG. 4, illustrated is a graph 240 thatcan be used to discuss one manner of canceling or compensating for thewave effects in the tank 155 (FIG. 1). The graph 240 shows themeasurements of tank volume 242 as a function of time 244. Variousmeasurements for the volume are plotted on graph 240 as a plurality ofdata points 250. FIG. 5 is a flowchart 260 that discusses specific stepsfor the manner or method of canceling or compensating for the waveeffects.

As mentioned before, the data points 250 are accumulated very rapidlyover time to produce a data sample. For example, 30-40 data points 250can be measured for the fuel height in the tank 155 (FIG. 1) everysecond. In still other embodiments, as many as 100 data readings can betaken every second. These data measurements can be forwarded to the CIM120, as represented in block 262 of flowchart 260 in FIG. 5. Each ofthese volume measurements can then be compared to at least onepredetermined volume, as represented in block 264. In essence, thismethod first filters out the rapidly accumulated data representative ofliquid volumes and heights to eliminate various blips or spikes that arenot representative of the possible. Thus, for example, unreliable datasuch as data indicating a predetermined volume that is more or less thana maximum tank volume or one or more other volumes of liquid identifiedas unreliable is filtered out.

For example, based upon the duration of the sample request, a deviationthreshold below and above the “S” type of reading (as discussed abovewith respect to Table 2) and the deviation allowable above and below,can be determined by multiplying the standard threshold level by thenumber of seconds in the request. If one uses, for example, 100 gallonsas the standard threshold level, and the reconciliation period is ten(10) seconds, then the threshold level would be 100 gallons times 10seconds, or plus or minus 1000 gallons from that standard high reading.This 1000 gallon level is represented by lines 246 and 248 in FIG. 4.Data readings 250 that fall above or below that 1000 gallon thresholdare ignored as unreliable in the subsequent steps. Data that isidentified as unreliable may be, for example, (A) a volume of liquidthat is more than a maximum tank volume; (B) a volume of liquid that isless than a minimum tank volume; or (C) one or more other volumes ofliquid that are identified as being unreliable. These threshold levelsare used to identify what readings are obviously erroneous, whichgenerates a secondary data set as represented by block 266 in FIG. 5.

With the secondary data set, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can calculate asample mean and a sample standard deviation for that filtered secondarydata set, as represented by block 268. Once determined, the secondarydata set can be filtered using the sample mean and sample standarddeviation. For instance using this secondary data set, the CIM system120 (FIG. 1) can discard measurement data for the tank volume outside ofso many standard deviations, thereby filtering the collected data settwice. For instance, the user can select X number of standard deviationsand the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) discards any acquired data that isoutside the X number of standard deviations. Thus, for example, anymeasurement data that has a value that is more or less than apredetermined number of standard deviations from the mean is eliminated.Therefore, any of the volume readings that are within plus or minus Xstandard deviations are determined to be statistically acceptable, asrepresented by block 270 in FIG. 5.

The remaining values can be included in a third data set sample forwhich a third data set sample mean and standard deviation can becalculated, as represented by block 272. This narrower data sample isshown as all data points 250 between lines 252 and 254 in FIG. 4. Theremaining data sets can then used to determine the actual volume withinthe tank 155 (FIG. 1) at a specific point in time, as represented byblock 274.

Using statistical techniques known to those of skilled in the art, thesample mean and standard deviation can be used to determine a percentlevel of confidence that a measure of volume is accurate within theallowable threshold of accuracy. Alternately, the percent confidencethreshold and the sample standard deviation for the volume measurementscan be used to determine a volume threshold of accuracy. Temperaturemeasurements can also be similarly filtered.

Using the product flow amounts, determined through the rapidaccumulation of dispenser data, and the tank manifold volume readings ordata that have been filtered in accordance with the method of FIG. 5,the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can adjust each tank manifold volume readingor data backwards, one by one, to a single time of reconciliation, andthen analyze the same during the reconciliation process. Using thismethod of time-aligning the filtered data thus accumulated, theripple/wave effect within the tank can be compensated by averaging thecollective tank manifold volume readings or data aligned to that pointin time. This method allows for compensation of the ripple/wave effectirregardless of ongoing sales transactions being dispensed. This methodfurther allows for the consideration of fuel flow from one or moredispensers 145 (FIG. 1).

Referring again to FIG. 1, in addition to bringing a plurality of tankvolumes to a single point in time, and as mentioned above, the methods,systems, and computer program products usable in system 100 can rapidlyaccumulate data for meter readings and temperatures at the dispenser 145and bring meter readings and temperature readings 150 corresponding tothe dispenser 145 back to a single point in time. A confidence level forboth tank measurements and the dispenser readings can be generated basedon the above described standard deviation, which is a function of theduration of the reconciliation process and the number of data pointsaccumulated during this time period. Therefore, the longer the systemcollects data and performs the reconciliation process, the greater thereliability of the data and results.

As previously mentioned, during the reconciliation process the status ofsales transactions are accounted for in a virtual real-time basis. Bymonitoring the various states of dispenser transactions, the CIM system120 can separate those transactions that should be included in anadjusted physical inventory or volume versus adjusted book inventory orvolume. The variance resulting from the analysis being the adjustedphysical volume minus the adjusted book value. The adjusted physicalvolume for the tank 155 used for reconciliation can include both netinterim sales plus the net physical tank volume. The net sales closedare then subtracted from, and the net deliveries added to, the netbeginning value or the beginning book value in order to determine anadjusted book value.

The net interim sales can be divided into several categories. Theseinclude interim open sale, interim complete sale and interim stack sale.An interim open sale refers to a transaction that is occurring (i.e.,sales transaction) at the time of reconciliation. In other words, thenozzle 220 (FIG. 3) is “off” of the pump dispenser 145 and is eitheraccumulating volume, i.e., fuel is flowing from the nozzle 220, or hasthe capability of increasing the volume flow. An interim complete saleoccurs upon the hanging up of the nozzle 220 (FIG. 3), i.e., return ofthe nozzle 220 (FIG. 3) to a housing of the dispenser 145, but beforethe transaction has been fully closed, i.e., payment has been made andaccepted. Interim stack sale, which is an extension of the interimcomplete sale, indicates that either another interim open sale orinterim complete sale, or multiples thereof for interim complete sales,resides on the same dispenser 145. For example, after one interimcomplete transaction or sale, another customer can start using the pumpor dispenser prior to the closure of the sale or transaction, i.e.,payment has been made and accepted, that was previously considered aninterim complete transaction or sale. Values of all of these interimopen, complete and stacked sales or transactions then make up the netinterim sales that are used for the adjusted physical volume indetermining the variance, i.e., the difference between adjusted physicalvolume and the adjusted book volume.

Closed transactions can also include two states. These include closedtransactions that are waiting to be sent to the CIM system 120, andthose closed transactions that have been sent to the CIM system 120 fromthe retail system 130. These closed transactions can be included in theadjusted book volume, but there also can be a mechanism wherebyduplications are excluded. Accordingly, exemplary embodiments providefor determining and deleting duplicate copies of closed transactions,i.e., transactions that were waiting to be sent at the beginning of thereconciliation process, which have since been updated on the bookbalance at the CIM system 120. As would be recognized, this advantageousfeature can be accomplished in many ways. For example, a comparison ofclosed transactions posted before or at the initiation of thereconciliation process and at the close of the initiation process can becompared, and duplicates extracted. Alternatively, an exception can beraised such that no closed transactions can be recorded to the CIMsystem 120 during the reconciliation time period. Other well known waysof determining duplicate reporting for closed transactions are alsoavailable. Accordingly, the specific process or system for determiningduplicate closed sales transactions outlined above is provided forillustrative purposes only, and is not meant to limit or otherwisenarrow the scope of the present invention unless explicitly claimed.

Generally, each transaction described above can have certain dataassociated with it that is useable for the reconciliation process. Forinstance, each transaction can have a data set associated with thetransaction. This data set can include, but is not limited to, tankinformation identifying which tank(s) the fuel was dispensed from. Asdiscussed before, fuel can be dispensed from a single tank or, in thecase of intermediate grade fuel, from multiple tanks. The tankinformation can designate the tank(s) and the blend ratio whereappropriate.

In addition to the above, the transaction data set can include the saleor transaction time, either commencing or completing the volume of fueldispensed, the fuel's temperature, and an associated invoice oridentifying number. It will be understood that various other informationcan be associated with each transaction, and the above are only examplesof some useful information.

As mentioned above with respect to FIG. 3, the dispenser 145 cancommunicate with the retail system 130 in virtual real-time usingvarious wireless communication technologies, such as RF, WiFi, etc. Whenthe dispenser 145 is flagged as an interim sale or transaction, e.g., aninterim open transaction, interim complete transaction or interim stacktransaction, the measuring devices associated with the dispenser 145 cancommunicate at least temperature and volume readings directly from thedispenser 145 for reconciliation purposes in a virtual real-time basis.By so doing, the CIM system 120 can receive temperature and volumereadings (e.g., via wire or wireless signaling), on a real-time orvirtual real-time basis regardless of the status of dispenser 145. Withthe control modules 228 (FIG. 3) within each dispenser 145 assigningtime-stamps to the temperature, volume and dispenser or pump statusreads, and the clock within the control module 228 (FIG. 3) indicatingthe offset from the time that has passed since the initiation of thereconciliation process, the reconciliation process can be performedregardless of the status of dispenser 145 as the offset time can beadded to the reconciliation start time at the retail system 130.

To help better describe the reconciliation process and the process ofbringing each measured value back to a single time to allow for accuratevariance calculations between the book balance or inventor and themeasured volume, the following example and description of thereconciliation process is provided.

Initially, once the CIM system 120 receives the measurement data and thetime-stamps, the CIM system 120 can begin the reconciliation process. Asan initial step, the process can include converting the measured fuellevel readings to net tank gallons. Converting the measured fuel levelreadings utilizes a tank volume formula that provides a relationshipbetween the height of fuel within a tank and the volume of fuel in thetank. Using the tank identifier, the CIM system 120 can identify thespecific tank volume formula table and associated conversion processesto convert the measured height to a volume. Since a single formulacannot generally be identified as showing the true relationship ofheight to volume in the tank, piecewise formulas generally can. Thepiecewise formulas can be appropriately referenced with either a heightor volume index. Additional description of the method for obtaining thechart and the associated conversion processes will be discussedhereinafter. For purposes of this example, provided below in Table 3 isa portion of the exemplary height to volume conversion data useable todetermine the volume of fuel in the tank. The value of X is the actualmeasured height identified by the height measurement device, with atleast a portion of the device disposed in the tank. TABLE 3 HeightVolume (Inches) Formula  0 2.6613 × 2 + 50.029X  5 3.5 × 2 + 48.5 X − 6 9 2.75 × 2 + 59.95 X − 50.35 13 2 × 2 + 78.6 X − 167.7 17 2 × 2 + 79 X− 174 21 1.5 × 2 + 99 X − 377.5 . . . . . .

Once the fuel level and conversion process are identified, the fuellevel readings can be converted to gross volumes having the sametime-stamp as the obtained fuel level reading. Using this information,the relative position of the temperature sensors or probes should beconsidered, by accessing the appropriate thermistor position informationstored at the CIM system 120.

As mentioned before, each tank 155 can include one or more temperaturemeasurement devices or sensors, such as thermistors with associatedprobes. The thermistors can measure the temperature at multipledifferent levels in the tank 155. One method for accurately installingthe probe can include (i) identifying the span of the thermistors'probe, (ii) adding an offset per manufacturer information, (iii)dividing adjusted spam by number of thermistors plus one to determinethe thermistor increment or spacing between thermistors, and (iv)assigning heights to the thermistors as per the manufacturer numberingsequence. For instance, the thermistors can be numbered and the probepositioned according to the following Table 4. TABLE 4 Thermistor NumberHeight of Probe 1 20 inches 2 40 inches 3 60 inches 4 80 inches 5 100inches  . . . . . .

With the thermistor information identified, those thermistors that areat or below the lowest measured fuel level reading can be used todetermine liquid temperatures. Once specific applicable thermistors areidentified, the CIM system 120 can determine the representativetemperature for the liquid by averaging the temperature from thethermistors actually located in the fuel. Using this temperature and theAPI gravity (or other density measurement) for the product in the tank155, the CIM system 120 can generate an appropriate gross to netconversion factor, as per the American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM) formula known to those skilled in the art.

With this conversion factor, the CIM system 120 can then convert thegross inventory volume per fuel level to a net inventory volume that canbe used for the reconciliation process. It will be understood that asimilar number of steps can be taken to convert the interim gross salesvolumes, i.e., the fuel flowing out of the selected tank, to a netvolume, thus eliminating the possibility of variance caused by change intemperature when the fuel is dispensed.

With the net inventory volume and net fuel recorded sales identified,each having an associated time-stamp, the CIM system 120 can convert theindividual time-stamped tank volumes to cumulative time-stamped volumes.This process can include sorting all time-stamped tank readings from thetank or manifold by their respective time-stamps. For instance, for athree tank manifold the results could be:

Tank 3 reading @ 17:28:39:165-11658.32 gal

Tank 1 reading @ 17:28:39:377-11658.12 gal

Tank 2 reading @ 17:28:39:581-11736.27 gal

Tank 3 Reading @17:28:40:398-11658.36 gal

Tank 1 Reading @17:28:40:611-11602.34 gal

Tank 2 Reading @17:28:40:815-11733.20 gal

With this ordered list, the CIM system 120 can order “series” of tankreadings by taking the first time-stamped fuel height reading(regardless of which tank is read first) and associating it with theclosest time-stamped reading of each additional tank in the manifold.Each tank reading can only reside in one series. For instance, for athree tank manifold the results could be:$1^{st}{Series}\left\{ {\begin{matrix}{{Tank}\quad 3\quad{{reading}@17}\text{:}28\text{:}39\text{:}165\text{-}11658.32\quad{gal}} \\{{Tank}\quad 1\quad{{reading}@17}\text{:}28\text{:}39\text{:}377\text{-}11658.12\quad{gal}} \\{{Tank}\quad 2\quad{{reading}@17}\text{:}28\text{:}39\text{:}581\text{-}11736.27\quad{gal}}\end{matrix}2^{nd}{Series}\left\{ {\begin{matrix}{{Tank}\quad 3\quad{{reading}@17}\text{:}28\text{:}40\text{:}398\text{-}11658.36\quad{gal}} \\{{Tank}\quad 1\quad{{reading}@17}\text{:}28\text{:}40\text{:}611\text{-}11602.34\quad{gal}} \\{{Tank}\quad 2\quad{{reading}@17}\text{:}28\text{:}40\text{:}815\text{-}11733.20\quad{gal}}\end{matrix}N^{th}{Series}\left\{ \begin{matrix}\quad & \quad & * \\\quad & \quad & * \\\quad & \quad & *\end{matrix} \right.} \right.} \right.$

Using only those tank readings that comprise a complete series, the CIMsystem 120 can calculate the time difference between the first time inthe series and every time in the series. For instance, the first tankseries could provide the following results: Tank Reading Difference Tank3 reading @ 17:28:39:165  0 Tank 1 reading @ 17:28:39:377 212 Tank 2reading @ 17:28:39:581 416

With the differences calculated, the CIM system 120 can average thedifferences in time and then add the average difference back to thefirst time from the series to determine a cumulative series time-stamp.For instance, the average for the above-identified first series can be209.33, so the cumulative series time-stamp can be17:28:39:165+209.33=17:28:39:374.

With this cumulative series time-stamp identified, the CIM system 120can then sum the volumes from each reading in the series and assign thesummed volume to the cumulative series time-stamp. The firsttime-stamped series may become the “Time of Reconciliation.” So, in theexample herein, the summed volume would be $\frac{\begin{matrix}{{{Tank}\quad 3\quad{reading}\text{-}11658.32\quad{gal}} +} \\{{{Tank}\quad 1\quad{reading}\text{-}11658.12\quad{gal}} +} \\{{Tank}\quad 2\quad{reading}\text{-}11736.27\quad{gal}}\end{matrix}}{= {35\text{,}052.71\quad{gal}}}$And, as mentioned above, the cumulative time-stamp associated with thisvolume would be 17:28:39:374. Note that other cumulative time-stampsfrom other series may be used for the Time of Reconciliation, which asdescribed in greater detail below is the time that all measurementreadings (e.g., temperature readings, dispenser volume readings, tankheight readings, etc.) will be brought back to. Accordingly, the use ofthe first cumulative series time-stamp as the “Time of Reconciliation”is used for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to limit orotherwise narrow the scope of the present invention unless explicitlyclaimed.

In any event, once the Time of Reconciliation has been determined, asimilar process can be performed for each additional series of data inpreparation for aligning all tank manifold volume readings to the Timeof Reconciliation. In particular, the above described process fordetermining a cumulative time-stamp and cumulative volume can beperformed for each of the series. Accordingly, this aligning process caninclude identifying the time and volume of the “Time of Reconciliation”and each subsequent cumulative time-stamped tank manifold volumereading.

Once the Time of Reconciliation and subsequent cumulative times for eachseries are determined, the CIM system 120 can identify sales that appearto have been active beyond the bounds of the tank manifold readings(i.e., active beyond the end time period for the rapid accumulation ofmeasurement data) and extrapolate a new dispenser or pump sales reading.The use of such extrapolated readings further facilitates the backwardtime alignment of successive tank manifold volume readings, back to theTime of Reconciliation. One method of performing this extrapolation isdepicted in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Turning now to FIG. 6, illustrated is a portion of the method toidentify sales that appear to have been active beyond the bounds of tankmanifold readings and to extrapolate new dispenser or pump salesreadings. The method illustrated in FIG. 6 is directed tobackward-extrapolating a pseudo dispenser reading from the first of apair of readings (for each dispenser) identified in the reconciliationprocess, while the method illustrated in FIG. 7 describes the manner inwhich to forward-extrapolate a pseudo dispenser reading from a last pairof readings for a particular dispenser or pump during the reconciliationprocess, to encapsulate the last tank reading.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the process can include initiallyidentifying whether or not the first of the paired readings is the firstreading provided in the reconciliation of a particular pump ordispenser, as represented by decision block 302. If the first pairreading is the first reading for the particular pump, it is nextdetermined whether or not the first of the paired readings is later thanthe Time of Reconciliation, as represented by decision block 304. Ifthis is the case, it is next determined whether or not to use a “LatePump Reading” rule, process, or method as described in decision blocks306 and 308, and blocks 310 and 312.

More specifically, if the identified paired readings meet the criteriaof decision bock 302 and decision block 304, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1)determines whether or not the first reading of the pump or dispenservolume is positive, as represented by decision block 306. When this isthe case, it is next determined whether or not the next or subsequentreading shows a positive change in the volume at the pump or dispenser,as represented by decision block 308. If there is a positive change involume, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) calculates the flow rate of fuelbased upon the first and second readings, as represented by block 310,and then calculates through extrapolation a new pump or dispenserreading that is tied back to the closest time-stamp tank manifoldreading, as represented by block 312. If the particular new pump ordispenser reading is greater than zero, it can be used during thereconciliation process; otherwise the newly identified pump or dispenserreading will be discarded. When the new pump or dispenser reading isless than zero, and when any of the decision blocks 302, 304, 306 and308 are not in the affirmative, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) will use thepump or dispenser readings provided in the reconciliation as beingconstant in their display of the actual pump or dispenser volume, asrepresented by bock 318.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a similar process is provided for the last pairedreading from a pump or dispenser during a reconciliation process. Theprocess performed by the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1), identified byreference numeral 330, can include determining whether the last of allof the paired readings for a pump or dispenser is the last readingprovided in the reconciliation for that pump or dispenser, asrepresented by decision block 332. When the result of decision block 332is in the affirmative, it is next determined whether or not the last ofthe paired readings for the pump or dispenser is earlier than the lasttank manifold volume reading identified during the reconciliationprocess, as represented by decision block 334. When a last pairedreading for the pump or dispenser is earlier than the last tank manifoldvolume reading, i.e. decision block 334 is in the affirmative, theprocess can further use an “Early Pump Read” rule, process, or methodfor determining an early pump or dispenser reading as provided for indecision blocks 336 and 338, and also blocks 340 and 342.

More specifically, it can be determined whether or not the last readingof the pump or dispenser has a volume amount that is greater than theamount for that pump or dispenser in the prior reading, as representedby decision block 336. When this is the affirmative, it is nextdetermined whether there is a tank manifold reading after the last knownreading for the pump or dispenser associated with the reconciliationprocess, as represented by decision block 338. When this criterion hasbeen met, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can then calculate the flow ratebetween the last pump or dispenser reading and the last tank manifoldreading, as represented by block 340 and then calculate a new pump ordispenser reading forward to the closest time-stamp tank manifoldreading, as represented by block 342. This new pump or dispenser readingcan then be used during the reconciliation process. When any of decisionblocks 332, 334, 336, and 338 are in the negative, the pump or dispenserreadings provided in the reconciliation process are constant in theirdisplay of pump or dispenser volume.

These processes described in FIGS. 6 and 7 yield the following resultsthat can be shown on a timeline:[TV₁]—P₁V₁=1—[TV₂]—P₁V₂=2—[TV₃]  (1)Where TV_(n) is the nth tank manifold volume reading, P_(n) is the nthpump reading, and V_(n) is the volume of the nth pump reading. Whenusing the “Late Read Rule” one would create P₁V₀, with a time-stamp 1second prior to that of P₁V₁ since the Late Pump Read Rule criteria allapply. When using the “Early Read Rule” one would create P₁V₃, with atime-stamp 1 second later to that of P₁V₂ since the Early Pump Read Rulecriterion all apply.

Using the known flow rates between all time-stamped pump or dispenserreadings, the CIM system 120 can interpolate a pump or dispenser salesreading for every pump or dispenser with a time-stamp equal to the timeof each tank manifold volume reading. With this pump or dispenser salesreading determined, the CIM system 120 flow rate adjusts each tankmanifold reading back to the “Time of Reconciliation,” by adding thepump or dispenser sales volumes back to the tank manifold reading.

With all relevant data read or adjusted back to the Time ofReconciliation, the CIM system 120 can determine physical volume fromthe multiple series of tank manifold readings by averaging alltime-aligned net inventory volume readings together to determine a meanphysical inventory. A standard deviation can also be calculated for thesample set of tank manifold readings, and readings that are +/− Xstandard deviations from the computed mean may be thrown out (where Xmay be user defined or some fixed value, e.g., 1 standard deviation).The remaining tank manifold readings can then be averaged to generatethe net physical volume at Time of Reconciliation. Using statisticalmethods known to those of skill in the art, a confidence level can alsobe shown for the volume determined using this method. As before, thisconfidence level is a function of the number of samples taken and theduration of the sampling size.

Once the net physical volume is determined, this net physical volume atTime of Reconciliation can be adjusted by the CIM system 120 for anyinterim sales associated with the manifold by adding back to the netphysical volume at the time of reconciliation, the net interim sales atthe time of reconciliation, which consist of interim active sales,interim completed sales, and interim stacked sales as described herein.In other words, those sales that were not already compensated for in theextrapolated dispenser or pump process previously described should beadded back to the physical volume, since these sales will not appear onthe book balance.

With the adjusted value, the CIM system 120 can then calculate thevariance of adjusted net physical volume to perpetual book net volume,i.e., the volume identified by various transactions, with the volumesassociated with the various transactions being converted to nettemperature (e.g., 60° F.) volume terms before being added to the bookbalance. This variance calculation can include updating the netperpetual book balance to the Time of Reconciliation, and subtractingnet perpetual book balance from adjusted net physical volume.

The following paragraphs illustrate one embodiment of a system forstandardizing a volume of a liquid product. The liquid product isdelivered from a fuel source by the carrier 105 (FIG. 1) to the retailfacility storage tank 155 (FIG. 1) and is then delivered from the retailfacility storage tank 155 through the dispenser 145 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to aconsumer. The system can include the volume measurement device 108(FIG. 1) that measures a gross volume of liquid product upon delivery ofthe liquid product to the carrier 105 and generates volume dataindicative of this gross volume. The system can also include thetemperature measurement device 107 (FIG. 1) that measures a temperatureof liquid product upon delivery of the liquid product to the carrier 105and generates temperature data indicative of this temperature.Furthermore, the system can include a volume measurement device 165(FIG. 1) that measures a gross volume of liquid product at the retailfacility storage tank 155 and generates storage tank volume dataindicative of this gross volume. Likewise, the system can include atemperature measurement device 165 that measures a temperature of liquidproduct at the retail facility storage tank 155 and generates storagetank temperature data indicative of this temperature. The system canfurther include a time-stamp system 137 that can be located, by way ofexample and not limitation, in the tank gauge console 135 (FIG. 1)configured to receive the storage tank volume data and the storage tanktemperature data and to allocate a time-stamp to the storage tank volumedata and the storage tank temperature data. Further still, the systemcan include a dispenser volume measurement device 224, 226 (FIG. 3) thatmeasures a gross volume of liquid product at a dispenser and generatesdispenser volume data indicative of this gross volume, a dispensertemperature measurement device 230 (FIG. 3) that measures a temperatureof liquid product at the dispenser and generates dispenser temperaturedata indicative of this temperature, and a time-stamp system 137(FIG. 1) configured to receive the dispenser volume data and thedispenser temperature data and to allocate a time-stamp to the dispenservolume data and the dispenser temperature data.

In some embodiments, the time-stamp system 137 at the retail facilitystorage tank 155 communicates with the volume measurement device 165 andthe temperature measurement device 165 at the retail facility storagetank 155 so as to receive volume data and temperature data and allocatea time-stamp to the volume data and temperature data generated at theretail facility storage tank 155. The time-stamp system 137 at thedispenser 145 communicates with the volume measurement device 224, 226and the temperature measurement device 230 at the dispenser 145 so as toreceive volume data and temperature data and allocate a time-stamp tothe volume data and temperature data generated at the dispenser 145.

In one embodiment, the volume measurement device 108 that measures agross volume of liquid product upon delivery of the liquid product to acarrier and the temperature measurement device 107 that measurestemperature of liquid product upon delivery of the liquid product to acarrier, respectively, measure the volume and temperature of the liquidproduct as the liquid product is delivered from the distributor fuelsource to the carrier. Alternately, the volume measurement device thatmeasures a gross volume of liquid product upon delivery of the liquidproduct to a carrier and the temperature measurement device thatmeasures temperature of liquid product upon delivery of the liquidproduct to a carrier, respectively, are located at one of (i) a fuelsource located with a distributor, (ii) the carrier and measure thevolume and temperature of the liquid product located within the carrier.The volume measurement device that measures a gross volume of liquidproduct and the temperature measurement device that measures temperatureof liquid product upon delivery of the liquid product to a carrier,respectively, may measure the volume and temperature of the liquidproduct when the carrier is located at a fuel source at a distributionfacility.

Once the time-stamps are assigned, the volume and temperature data canbe adjusted back to a single point in time, so that net volumes can becalculated and used to update the book balance during the reconciliationprocess. By time-stamping the volume and temperature data, the flow ofliquid product from the tank(s) and dispenser(s) at the retail facilitycan be accurately measured and so relied upon during the reconciliationprocess.

In making the above mentioned calculations for tank volume, and asdiscussed herein, it is desirable to identify the height of the fuel inthe tank and use this measurement to determine the volume of liquidproduct within a tank. One manner or method for converting the height ofthe fuel to a volume is by way of a calibration chart, and associatedprocesses. The tank manufacturer provides a chart that can be used tomake the height to volume conversions on a finite scale. However, themanufacturers chart may assume that the tank was placed in the groundexactly horizontally and vertically, and/or that the tank wasmanufactured to an exact standard. If the tank is slightly off from thehorizontal, vertical or the standard, this can affect the height tovolume conversion. It is sometimes necessary to calibrate the expectedheight to volume relationship to account for this slight discrepancy.This can be accomplished by identifying variance as a function of eitherheight or volume in the tank.

It should be noted that the calibration process is not limited to asingle tank. In many cases, there are multiple storage tanks holding thesame type of product that are manifolded together to form a manifoldedgroup. A manifolded group can be a group of one or more tanks allowing across-flow of product or a group of one or more tanks that are pluggedinto a single trunk line going to a group of dispensers. In either case,a manifolded group can include multiple tanks that, because liquidproduct flows out of one or more of the tanks to the dispensers duringdelivery to a consumer, the flow of the liquid product can't be tiedback to any one of those tanks individually. Likewise, because there iscross-flow of product between those tanks, it is not feasible to keep anaccurate book inventory on any one of those tanks individually. However,accurate book inventory can be maintained for the group. In someembodiments, the calibration process can be used to calibrate themanifolded group, rather than the individual tanks within the group.

In order to perform the calibration process, it is desirable to ensurethat the manifolded group is normalized. The various gauges in the tanksin the group can give different readings at any one time. For example,one tank could read 65 inches, another 64 inches, and a third 61 inches.As long as this difference remains relatively constant, the tanks can beconsidered normalized. In other words, if all of the height valuesacross all of the tanks in the tank group can be shown to have moved inparallel fashion when product is added or removed, i.e., the measuredheights all moved up or down one inch, the group can be considerednormalized, and the calibration process can be conducted. The degree towhich the tank manifold group is normalized can be shown using a methodof tracking the standard deviation of height difference of the contentsof the tanks in the manifold group, across multiple sample readings ofthose heights. Tolerance limits can be set allowing the system toidentify which reconciliation samples can be qualified for considerationin the calibration process.

Keeping in mind that there are many ways to perform this calibrationprocess, two such ways will be discussed herein. In a first method, asingle tank or manifolded series of tanks is filled. The product is thenpumped out until the tank(s) can be considered empty. Measurements aremade at incremental levels as the product is dispensed. Thesemeasurements can then be used to generate a calibration curve thatallows a retail facility to read the level of product in the tank(s) andknow with some accuracy how much variance there is in that measuredreading. Variance that falls outside the limits of the calibration curvecan then be initially unexplained variance. Using the various systemsand methods discussed above, this initially unexplained variance canthen be explained. This first method will be discussed in detail belowwith reference to FIGS. 8-11. In a second method to accomplish thecalibration process, historical data can be used to determine thecalibration curve. This second method will be discussed below withreference to FIG. 12.

The first method will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 8-11 andTable 5, shown below. Initially, the CIM system 120 treats themanufacturer's height vs. volume chart as if the chart was correct whenthe tank is filled. For instance, data representative of themanufacturer's chart can be stored in data storage at the CIM system 120(FIG. 1). Initial variance between manufacturer's chart and calibratedchart pending is then zero. For instance, TABLE 5 Manufacturer's ChartCalibrated Chart Height Volume Height Volume 108″ 19122 108″ 19122

Using Table 5 above, the fuel reconciliation process can be started aspreviously describe herein. When the next volume measurement is received(i.e. after the predefined amount of fuel has been dispensed), the CIMsystem 120 (FIG. 1) can then calculate the variance from our “expected”volume based on the manufacturer's charts. Below are examples offormulas that can be used to calculate the variance, with the identifiedvolumes being adjusted to the average manifold temperature as taughtherein:Gross_volume_from_chart_readings=expected-volume  (2)Gross_Initial_volume−dispensed_volume=calibrated_volume  (3)Calibrated_volume−expected_volume=variance  (4)

The variance can be calculated every time a new volume measurement isreceived during this tank calibration process. For example, ameasurement can be (received for every hundred gallons of fueldispensed. When all volume and variance measurements have beencalculated, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can generate the volume vs. thevariance and the volume vs. height relationships for when the tank istilted or otherwise deformed. Examples of these are illustrated in FIGS.8 and 9.

FIG. 8 illustrates a chart 350 comparing a volume 352 in the tank to ameasured height 354 of the gauge in the tank. A base curve 356represents the curve if the tank is sitting exactly upright, while atilted curve 358 represents the curve for the tank as it is actuallysitting. These two curves 356, 358 cross at a point 360, whichrepresents the assumption that there is no variance when the tank isfull.

FIG. 9 illustrates one possible corresponding volume to variance chart370. Chart 370 plots an actual variance 372 versus a measured volume374, represented as line 376. From these initial graphs 350, 370, anddata indicative of the curves and lines, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1),and more generally one or more methods and/or processes of the presentinvention, can determine if the volume and the variance have asignificant relationship.

It is understood that the initial assumption that there is no variancewhen the tank is has been filled could be false. Primarily, the tankcould be distorted such that the fill capacity differs from themanufacturer's specification, or perhaps the tank was not completelyfilled at all. However, because of the relationship between volume andvariance shown, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can shift the calibratedcurve in such a manner as to minimize the least squares difference inthe calibration curve and the original curve. This can produce a graph378, like that shown in FIG. 10, which gives a more accuraterepresentation of the volume to measured height relationship. Note thatin this graph 378, the cross over point between the base curve 356 andthe tilted curve 358 is now at a new point 362, which can approximate anintermediate point of both curves 356 and 358. A new volume to variancegraph 379 can also be created, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

Once the graphs 378, 379 have been generated, the CIM system 120(FIG. 1) can generate data, such as but not limited to, one or moreformulae that represent the curve and illustrate the variance as afunction of height or inventory volume. The formulae identity theexpected variance for any volume measurement on a specified tankmanifold. Any variance observed deviating from this line can be anunexplained variance, which can be subject to later assignment throughcorrelation analysis. Since the exact position of a tank underground isdifferent for every tank, this process is complete for each tank in thesystem 100 (FIG. 1) or for each series of manifolded tanks.

A height to volume reference chart derived from the variance curvediscussed above can have the form as follows. TABLE 6 Height Volume(Inches) Formula  0 2.6613 × 2 + 50.029X  5 3.5 × 2 + 48.5 X − 6  9 2.75× 2 + 59.95 X − 50.35 13 2 × 2 + 78.6 X − 167.7 17 2 × 2 + 79 X − 174 211.5 × 2 + 99 X − 377.5 . . . . . .

Any height measurement of liquid product with the tank between numberson the chart can use the formula of the lowest number. For example, ifthe measured value is 5.5 inches, since 5.5 inches is greater than 5 butless than 9, the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can use the data or formulaindicated by height 5, where X is the measured height. The use of such apiecewise data or formula chart allows infinite interpolation capabilitybetween the known values.

During the above-described tank calibration process, it is desirable toappend the temperature and representative density of the fuel tankmanifold, along with the temperature and representative density of thefuel being dispensed, to every sales transaction. This can be done sothe gallons dispensed can be converted to what they would have been atthe tank temperature. This method can minimize bias in the tankcalibration curve, and therefore increase the accuracy of the system 100(FIG. 1). The following describes one example of a process to accomplishthis.

In order to correct for temperature, the temperature of the fuel in thetank is accurately measured. Most tanks use a series of thermistorslocated at periodic height within the tank to make these measurements,as described previously. By way of example and not limitation, if thetank is a standard 10 foot tall tank, thermistors could be located atheights of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 inches. Depending on the measuredheight of the fuel, one or more of these thermistors would be read toascertain the fuel temperature in the tank. If one or more of thesethermistors are above the level of the fuel, they can be ignored as theair temperature in the tank can differ markedly from the actual fueltemperature. In alternate embodiments, a thermistor attached to thefloat that measures the fuel height can be used to measure the fueltemperature. When the process is started, a period inventory temperaturecan be calculated by averaging the temperature from the prior andcurrent reconciliations. The derived period inventory temperature can beused by the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) to temperature-correct each interimsales transaction to the same temperature as what prevailed in theinventory tanks. As previously mentioned, this can be done using onlythe thermistors in the tanks that are below the fuel level.

As fuel is dispensed, each transaction can be accompanied by atemperature or data indicative of the temperature of the fuel at thepoint of measurement in the fuel dispenser. When the reported salesvolume, or Accum_Volume, reaches the next incremental threshold volume,or Volume_Increment, then the total manifold volume can be converted tonet volume terms, using an ASTM certified method, to obtain a conversionfactor for converting volumes at the tank temperature to equivalentvolumes at a standardized temperature, (e.g., 60° F.). For example: themeasured data could be Gross_Volume=10,000 gallons, temperature=73° F.,and API Gravity=57.5. The calculated data to achieve the volume of fluidat 60° F. could be found using API Gravity at 60° F.=55.9, with aconversion factor=0.9914 and the following equation:Net_Volume=Conversion_Factor*Gross_Volume  (5)This results in temperature corrected net volume being9914=0.9914*10,000.

The CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can perform a similar calculation to converteach transaction volume dispensed into net standard temperature (e.g.,60° F.) terms. Then the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can take the sum of thenet volume dispensed, and divide it by the tank conversion factor usedto bring the tank inventory to net standard temperature terms. Theresult is dispensed volume temperature corrected to prevailing tanktemperature. For example, if the calculated net dispensed volume orNet_Disp_Vol=500 and the Tank_Conversion_Factor=0.9914, then, usingequation 6 below,Disp_Vol_at_Tank-Temp=Net-Disp_Vol/Tank_Conversion_Factor  (6)the dispensed volume temperature corrected to prevailing tanktemperature=504.34 or 504.34=500/0.9914. It is the dispensed volumetemperature corrected to prevailing tank temperature that the CIM system120 (FIG. 1) can use to subtract from the previous tank volume tocalculate the calibrated volume, as described herein.

Each time Accum_Volume reaches the Volume_Increment amount, a newmanifold temperature can be measured, and an average temperature can becalculated between this current measurement and the previous manifoldtemperature. This process can be repeated until the tank calibrationprocess is complete.

The CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) can periodically check the chart and dataused to convert measured height of liquid within a tank to a volume ofliquid within the tank, i.e., the strapping chart and data, for eachtank within system 100 (FIG. 1). Each tank within the system 100(FIG. 1) can have its own strapping chart and data. By periodicallychecking the chart and data, the accuracy of the strapping chart and theheight to volume conversion factors can be periodically verified. Whenthe CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) performs a periodic check, a notificationcan be sent to the retail facility 128 (FIG. 1) and associated retailsystem 130 (FIG. 1) indicating that the calibration is being performedand that no deliveries are allowed to the tank being checked. Followingnotification, a reconciliation process can be performed to verify fuelvolumes and temperatures. When a disparity is identified, i.e., theexisting tank strapping chart does not mirror the reconciled volume, thestrapping chart can be modified to accommodate for the disparity.

One disadvantage of the above system is that it restricts deliverieswhile the calibration process is ongoing. In large retail facilities, asingle tank can be emptied of product in a matter of hours. A secondmethod to calibrate the measurements has been developed to overcome thisdeficiency. This method is illustrated in FIG. 12, which is based on thedata shown in Table 7 below. Note that, while Table 7 illustrates amanifolded group of tanks, a similar approach can be conducted todetermine a calibration curve for a single tank. TABLE 7 Beg. End Line #Book − Sales + Deliveries Book ATG Variance 1 60,000 10,000 0 50,00050,100 100 2 50,100 5,000 0 45,100 45,200 100 3 45,700 5,000 0 40,20040,100 −100 4 40,100 10,000 15,000 45,100 45,000 −100 5 45,000 10,000 035,000 34,800 −200 6 34,800 5,000 0 29,800 29,900 100 7 29,900 5,000 029,900 25,000 100 8 25,000 5,000 10,000 30,000 30,100 100 9 30,10010,000 0 20,100 20,200 100 10 20,200 5,000 0 15,200 15,200 0 11 15,20010,000 0 5,200 5000 −200 12 5000 1000 11,000 15,000

The data in Table 7 was generated as part of a tank calibration process,such as a calibration process described above. The tank calibrationprocess can include modules, such as software modules and hardwaremodules, and/or functions which continually query a database accessibleto the CIM system 120 (FIG. 1) and/or the retail system 130 (FIG. 1) todetermine if a predefined amount of fuel has been dispensed. When thedispensed volume is greater than or equal to the volume increment, afuel reconciliation can be performed which will calculate the variancefrom the expected volume based on the manufacturer's strapping chartsand data. It will also calculate accumulated variance associated to aspecific manifold volume, i.e., the volume of liquid product for one ormore tanks manifolded or in fluid communication one to another. FIG. 12and Table 7 were generated using formulas 2-4 shown above. In addition,the following formula also applies:accum_variance=accum_variance+variance  (7)

FIG. 12 shows a graph 380 that illustrates the additional method ofgenerating a calibration curve for a tank or a manifolded tank group.The Graph 380 includes a measure of tank volume 380 on the “X” axis, anda measure of a variance 384 on the “Y” axis. Using the data from Table7, a plurality of data points 388 can be plotted on the graph 380. Asshown on line 1 of Table 7, the beginning book balance is 60,000gallons. It is assumed that 60,000 gallons is the approximate tank filllevel. Furthermore, it is assumed that at 60,000 gallons, there is novariance. If there were 10,000 gallons of sales before the nextreconciliation and no deliveries, the ending book balance, or thecalculated value that one would expect to be in the tank and to bereported through the automatic tank gauge would be 50,000 gallons. Butin reading the height of the product, and using the formulas derivedfrom the manufacturer's data for those tanks, it could be reportedthrough the tank gauge that there were 50,100 gallons. So theaccumulated variance from the representative top of the tank down tothis position of the tank can be shown as a function of manifold volumealone. This 100 gallons of positive variance can be expected to reoccurin the future. The variance is measured and added to the accumulatedvariance every time a new volume measurement is received from the TankCalibration Process. Thus, for every volume measurement there is anassociated accumulated variance that can be stored and plotted on thegraph 380.

The 50,100 gallons becomes the new book balance. As shown in line 2 ofTable 7, there is then an incremental 5,000 gallons of sales, whichgenerates an ending book balance of 45,100. In reading the tank gaugeand reading the strapping formulas or data, it could be determined thatthere were 45,200 gallons in the tank. These incremental points can thenplotted on the graph 380, which shows these three data points 388 (onestarting point and two reconciliation points). Row three of Table 7 thenshows a beginning book balance of 45,200 gallons. There are 5,000gallons in sales. The physical inventory should then be 40,200. However,at this point, the automatic tank gauge provides a reading of 40,100gallons, which is a variance of −100 gallons. These four data points arethen used to construct a curve 390.

In line four of Table 7, a delivery is made into the tank(s). Every timea delivery occurs during the calibration process, the system willperform another fuel reconciliation. This provides a new starting pointin which the accumulated variance is set to zero. It is desirable to setthe accumulated variance back to zero to minimize any effects from apossible delivery variance. For example, if the book shows that 15,000gallons were delivered, but only 14,800 gallons were actually delivered,this could skew the calculations. Lines 5-7 in Table 7 can then be usedto provide another set of data points 388, which can then used togenerate a second curve 392. The above process is continued until thecalibration process is finished, or another delivery is made. Any time afuel reconciliation is run and the volume is greater than the previousreconciliation's volume, then a delivery has occurred. This isillustrated in the graph 380 as another curve 394. A user can include asmany segments as desired and/or for which historical data exists. Afterdefining the segments to be used, calibration formula and data for thetank or manifolded tanks can then be generated.

The calibration formula can be built from the segments 390, 392, and 394that were generated from the actual data retrieved from the normalreconciliation processes. The identified segments can be assigned ahierarchy and can be connected by using a technique of minimizing theleast squares distance of the overlapping portions of those segments.This aligned curve is represented as a dashed line 396 in FIG. 12.

From the data in Table 7 and the corresponding curves shown in FIG. 12,it can be identified that there is a pattern-like relationship betweenthe manifold volume and the accumulated variance. Geometrically, it canbe shown that tilt, deformation or any other inaccuracy in the tankspecification, or the inventory measurement apparatus of any individualtank, can invalidate the original formula representing the height tovolume relationship for that tank. Furthermore, it can be shown thatsuch inaccuracies are consistent or static in nature, and can combine inaggregate to show a pattern-like relationship. The above processprovides a curve that substantially reduces or even eliminates thedifferences between the actual installation and the manufacturer'soriginal height to volume charts.

As long as there are a sufficient number of data points available in thehistorical data, the above method can be used to generate a volume tovariance curve over the entire range of tank(s) volumes. Therefore, fora given measured volume, curve 396 represents the expected amount ofvariance due to the tank structure and/or placement. The curve 396allows representation of both the variance that could be expected afterfilling the tank and later running a reconciliation at any fill level ofthe tank, or the incremental variance that could be expected between anytwo fill levels of the tank. Note that no operational limitations needto be imposed on the system to allow for the retrieval of the data tobuild the segments necessary to generate the calibration formula ordata. No time period need be identified over which data is to becollected and analyzed, as is the case with the first method discussedabove with reference to FIG. 8-11. Additionally, the process outlinedabove with reference to Table 7 and FIG. 12 allows for a periodicre-calibration on an as desired basis.

As alluded to above, methods, systems, and computer program products canbe used with the system 100 of FIG. 1 to probe end-to-end fueltemperature at various points, including all points of physicalmeasurement for temperature correcting volume across the fuel managementsystem. Because of the reporting of the temperatures through, forexample, the antenna 234 (FIG. 3) within the dispenser unit 145, and byusing temperature readings taken during the rapid accumulation of dataat other locations within the system, such as at the tank 155, thissystem 100 and the CIM system 120 allow for both consideration of and,where necessary, provides actual temperature measurements for, allpoints of physical measurement.

In particular, fuel temperatures can be measured at the loading rack 105(as recorded in e.g., the bill-of-lading), at the liquid product storagetank 155, and at the fuel dispenser 145. There can be significanttemperature change occurring both during delivery to retail facility 128from the load rack 105, as well from the liquid product storage tank tothe fuel dispenser 145. Therefore, the thermal expansion/contraction ofthe product can be taken into account in each transaction and in eachexecuted reconciliation process. In other words, to allow truereconciliation to occur in net gallon terms, it is desirable to measuretemperature in conjunction with every measurement of physical volume.Therefore, temperature and volume data can be collected from thedispenser and during any sales transactions for use in thereconciliation process performed by the CIM system 120.

The temperature readings of a dispensed sale at a dispenser 145 areunique per sales transaction, and are a function of one or more of thefollowing variables: fluid temperatures; surrounding groundtemperatures; pipe wall thickness; pipe wall material; proximity of thedispenser skirt relative to rays of the sun; ambient air temperature;fluid flow rate; and the duration of time since the last transaction. Aspreviously mentioned, the methods, systems, and computer programproducts described herein allow one temperature to be measured inconjunction with the sale, regardless of whether the temperaturecorrection is applied to the retail sale. Accordingly, the controlmodule 228 (FIG. 3) of dispenser 145 can report the gross volume of thesale and the temperature of the sale separately, which can also bereported by the retail system 130. This gross volume and temperaturereporting advantageously provides for compensation of the differenttemperatures throughout the system 100, and offers both gross and netvolume reporting not currently offered by typical dispensers.

Similarly, the methods, systems, and computer program products describedherein provide for the perpetual net inventory book balance to bemodified by a dynamic expansion coefficient of product relative to thetemperature changes and density. Based on the API gravity report at therack 105 and reported in the BOL, the CIM system 120 maintains datarepresentative of fuel densities throughout the lifecycle of the fuel orproduct within the system 100. The storage and updating of suchrepresentative density values, combined with the updating and storage oftemperature values, allows the CIM system 120 to dynamically identifythe appropriate gross to net conversion for any physical measurement offuel. With this data, the temperature-compensated amount of product usedand remaining in the tank 155 can be accurately determined. For example,the CIM system 120 can use the temperature and density to perform atemperature corrected gross to net conversion for every transactionbefore posting to the net perpetual book balance.

The temperature correction hinges around the actual temperature of thefuel or product that is being temperature corrected, and the density ofthe fuel or product that is being temperature corrected. The densitydoesn't allow one to perfectly identify the elasticity between thevolume and temperature of that fuel or product (i.e., it doesn't allowyou to perfectly identify the coefficient of expansion). But sincemolecular chains, hydrocarbons in particular, that have similar density,react very similarly to temperature, the use of density and temperatureis the most generally accepted method across all facets of industry.

Because the density of the product changes, it is only necessary to knowthe density value consistently and within reasonableness. In comparingtwo products of non-like density or differing density, their reaction totemperature change will be different. So the terminal systems (i.e. therack 105), because of the amount of volume that they store and deliver,are required to report density. Most of them have the ability to measuredensity using densitometers or other measuring equipment that can beused to determine the value. They report that on the bill of lading. Aweighted average or a FIFO (first-in-first-out) average of the densityreportedly going into the tank can then be weighted by the amount ofvolume going into the tank. This provides a representative density forthe product that is in the storage tank. That density value and thetemperature that is measured on a real-time on-site basis are used todetermine a temperature corrected volume conversion factor allowing oneto derive the net volume of that product.

It should be noted that the various reports and accumulated data can betransmitted using Extended Markup Language (XML) document format or anyother format readable by computer systems. Using XML, for example, salestransaction records can include headers that identify the status of asale, the time of the sale, the invoice number and other suchinformation in a standard XML document. In such instances, non-blendedproduct would simply have a tank number, whereas, if a blended productis used, then the tanks and blend ratios can be given and separatedusing a standard means, e.g., separated by commas. Transaction date andtime can also be associated with the transaction record along with aninvoice number, volume and temperature.

The system can also determine a correlation between the variance and allof the qualitative and quantitative variance factors. It can accomplishthis using multiple regression analysis. This allows the system to beable to indicate if there is a leak in a fuel tank, plumbing ordispensers. It also allows the system to determine if a dispenser needsto be recalibrated, if someone is stealing fuel, or if a truck has aleak or holds back fuel during a delivery. This is just some of theuseful information the CIM system can provide.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also includecomputer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executableinstructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readablemedia can be any available media that can be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of computer-executableinstructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to acomputer, the computer properly views the connection as acomputer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed acomputer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function orgroup of functions.

FIG. 13 and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief,general description of a suitable computing environment in which theinvention may be implemented. Although not required, the invention willbe described in the general context of computer-executable instructions,such as program modules, being executed by computers in networkenvironments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,objects, components, data structures, etc. that performs particulartasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executableinstructions, associated data structures, and program modules representexamples of the program code means for executing steps of the methodsdisclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executableinstructions or associated data structures represents examples ofcorresponding acts for implementing the functions described in suchsteps.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may bepracticed in network computing environments with many types of computersystem configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and thelike. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by local and remote processingdevices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, orby a combination of hardwired or wireless links) through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 13, an exemplary system for implementing theinvention includes a general purpose computing device in the form of aconventional computer 420, including a processing unit 421, a systemmemory 422, and a system bus 423 that couples various system componentsincluding the system memory 422 to the processing unit 421. The systembus 423 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memorybus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any ofa variety of bus architectures. The system memory includes read onlymemory (ROM) 424 and random access memory (RAM) 425. A basicinput/output system (BIOS) 426, containing the basic routines that helptransfer information between elements within the computer 420, such asduring start-up, may be stored in ROM 424.

The computer 420 may also include a magnetic hard disk drive 427 forreading from and writing to a magnetic hard disk 439, a magnetic diskdrive 428 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 429,and an optical disk drive 430 for reading from or writing to removableoptical disk 431 such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. The magnetichard disk drive 427, magnetic disk drive 428, and optical disk drive 430are connected to the system bus 423 by a hard disk drive interface 432,a magnetic disk drive-interface 433, and an optical drive interface 434,respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable mediaprovide nonvolatile storage of computer-executable instructions, datastructures, program modules and other data for the computer 420.Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a magnetichard disk 439, a removable magnetic disk 429 and a removable opticaldisk 431, other types of computer readable media for storing data can beused, including magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digitalversatile disks, Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, and the like.

Program code means comprising one or more program modules may be storedon the hard disk 439, magnetic disk 429, optical disk 431, ROM 424 orRAM 425, including an operating system 435, one or more applicationprograms 436, other program modules 437, and program data 438. A usermay enter commands and information into the computer 420 throughkeyboard 440, pointing device 442, or other input devices (not shown),such as a microphone, joy stick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, orthe like. These and other input devices are often connected to theprocessing unit 421 through a serial port interface 446 coupled tosystem bus 423. Alternatively, the input devices may be connected byother interfaces, such as a parallel port, a game port or a universalserial bus (USB). A monitor 447 or another display device is alsoconnected to system bus 423 via an interface, such as video adapter 448.In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.

The computer 420 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computers449 a and 449 b. Remote computers 449 a and 449 b may each be anotherpersonal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device orother common network node, and typically include many or all of theelements described above relative to the computer 420, although onlymemory storage devices 450 a and 450 b and their associated applicationprograms 436 a and 436 b have been illustrated in FIG. 4. The logicalconnections depicted in FIG. 4 include a local area network (LAN) 451and a wide area network (WAN) 452 that are presented here by way ofexample and not limitation. Such networking environments are commonplacein office-wide or enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 420 is connectedto the local network 451 through a network interface or adapter 453.When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 420 may includea modem 454, a wireless link, or other means for establishingcommunications over the wide area network 452, such as the Internet. Themodem 454, which may be internal or external, is connected to the systembus 423 via the serial port interface 446. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 420, or portionsthereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will beappreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and othermeans of establishing communications over wide area network 452 may beused.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. In a system having a centralized management system, a method for centrally monitoring and controlling the delivery of liquid product to a plurality of retail facilities from a carrier that transports liquid product, the method comprising: receiving at the centralized management system a request from the carrier for instructions relating to delivery of liquid product; based on data monitored by the centralized management system, determining liquid product needed in a retail facility selected from the plurality of retail facilities; and posting an order providing instructions to the carrier regarding liquid product needed in the selected retail facility.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining liquid product needed comprises one of: (i) determining a type of liquid product needed, (ii) determining an amount of liquid product needed, and (iii) determining the type and the amount of liquid product needed.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining liquid product needed comprises determining a type and a volume of liquid product needed.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request for instructions from the carrier comprises a request for instructions relating to at least one of a geographical location of a rack containing the liquid product, a current location of the carrier, a liquid product need of the retail facility, and a geographical location of the retail facility relative to the carrier and the rack.
 5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein posting the order can be based upon at least one of (i) the relative cost of delivered supply options, (ii) supply purchase fulfillment obligations, (iii) retail demand constraints, and (iv) the geographical location of the carrier relative to a rack where the liquid product can be loaded.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising rejecting the order by the carrier, the carrier rejecting the order by sending a reason code to the centralized management system.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting the order by the carrier, updating a status of the order at the centralized management system, and forwarding the order to a loading terminal.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: accessing a transaction record received from a loading terminal that includes liquid product loading details; validating that a supply and a volume of the liquid product match an inventory need of the retail facility; authorizing a specific tank to receive the liquid product; and monitoring all tanks at the selected retail facility to insure that the liquid product is delivered into said authorized tank.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said loading details include at least one of a liquid product temperature at said loading terminal, a type of liquid product, a gross volume of liquid product, a temperature corrected net volume of liquid product, and a density of liquid product.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising monitoring a water level in said authorized tank during delivery and suspending delivery if said water level exceeds a predefined value.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: posting transaction record data to the carrier for validation; receiving validation from the carrier for said transaction record; posting authorization to the carrier to deliver the liquid product into a selected storage tank at the retail facility; receiving notification of delivery completion; and updating a book balance of available liquid product as per the transaction record.
 12. In a monitoring and control system for tracking liquid product inventory, the system comprising at least one central computer connected to at least one retail computer, a method for controlling the movement of the liquid product from a delivery terminal to a designated storage tank of a retail facility, the method comprising: sending an electronic request for a delivery of the liquid product to the at least one central computer using a portable computing device; receiving a delivery of the liquid product in a delivery vehicle at the delivery terminal; transporting the liquid product to the retail facility; requesting authorization to deliver the liquid product to the designated storage tank; receiving authorization to deliver the liquid product to the designated storage tank; and delivering the liquid product into the designated storage tank.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said electronic request is a supply option for delivery to the retail facility.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: having the at least one central computer post an order with an order number to said portable computing device; having a driver of said delivery vehicle accept said order; and having the at least one central computer forward said order to a terminal computer at the delivery terminal.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving authorization to deliver the liquid product further comprises transmitting an electronic transaction record from a terminal computer at the delivery terminal to the at least one central computer.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic transaction record includes at least one of the following: a route start and end time, a freight bill number, a customer name, a customer identification number, a supplier name, a supplier identification number, a ship from name, a ship from identification number, a ship to name, a ship to identification number, a transaction date, a start and end time, a supplier product name, a product identification number, a gross volume, a net volume as a function of temperature, a specific gravity of the product, a volume unit of measure (UOM), a density UOM, a temperature and a temperature UOM, a retail product name and a retail product identification number.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein requesting authorization to deliver further comprises: sending an authorization request from said portable computing device to the at least one retail computer, said authorization request including at product type and a product volume; verifying that said at least one product type and said product volume match a requirement in the designated storage tank; performing a book balance to a physical balance reconciliation process for the designated storage tank; sending a loading transaction record from the at least one retail computer to said portable computing device; and verifying said loading transaction record prior to delivering the liquid product.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein delivering the liquid product further comprises: unloading all of the liquid product into the designated storage tank; notifying the at least one retail computer that the liquid product has been unloaded; updating a book balance of the designated storage tank to include a volume of liquid product contained in said delivery vehicle; performing a book balance to a physical balance reconciliation process for the designated storage tank; and verifying that the volume of liquid product contained in the delivery vehicle was delivered to the designated storage tank.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising monitoring all tanks at the retail facility to insure that the liquid product goes into the designated storage tank.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising monitoring a water level in the designated storage tank during delivery and suspending delivery if said water level exceeds a predefined value.
 21. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one central computer monitors and manages physical and reported book sales for the retail facility.
 22. A liquid product storage and delivery system, the system comprising: a centralized management system that delivers orders to one or more carriers to deliver a liquid product to one or more retail facilities, the centralized management system monitors the liquid product inventory at the plurality of retail facilities; and a designated retail facility of the one or more retail facilities, the designated retail facility including one or more storage tanks that receive the liquid product, the designated retail facility receives data indicative of a future delivery of the liquid product from both the centralized management system and a carrier of the one or more carriers that is to deliver the liquid product to the one or more storage tanks.
 23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the carrier delivers a request to delivery the liquid product to the centralized management system.
 24. The system as recited in claim 23, where the request comprises a request for instructions relating to at least one of a geographical location of a rack containing the liquid product, a current location of the carrier, a liquid product need of the retail facility, and a geographical location of the retail facility relative to the carrier and the rack.
 25. The system as recited in claim 22, further comprising a loading terminal remote from the centralized management system, the carrier receives the liquid product from the loading terminal.
 26. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the carrier delivers an electronic delivery record to the retail facility before delivering the liquid product to the one or more storage tanks.
 27. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the retail facility delivers data indicative of the completion of a delivery of the liquid product by the carrier to the centralized management system. 